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Diahuebs, 28 September 2023 AWEMainta INTERNATIONAL 39

Spain Imposes Fines on ‘Big Four’

Consulting Firms Over Marathon Workdays

THE Spanish Labour Ministry has taken a decisive step by
imposing fines amounting to at least €1.4 million on the

‘Big Four’ consulting firms – Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG
– a year after launching an investigation into their working
practices and conditions. This investigation was initiated
amid concerns that employees might be working longer

hours than officially recorded.
Some employees at these consulting giants reportedly
endured grueling workdays of up to 16 hours, sparking
concerns about their well-being and labor rights. The lack of

an hourly register, required for all companies since a change
in Spanish law in 2019, contributed to this issue.

The absence of proper accountability allowed what were

referred to as “marathon working days” to become common- Four’ firms. The recession of 2008 and the subsequent
place. A former employee at PwC in Madrid, Sergio Padilla, competitive labor market contributed to a mindset that
shared his experience of working 12-hour days from 9 am values job security over working conditions.
to 9 pm. This demanding schedule left him with minimal free Furthermore, a significant portion of new hires at these

time, leading to a diet of fast food due to his inability to buy consulting firms consists of recent graduates with no prior
groceries. work experience. A report by the Spanish Association of
The ‘Big Four’ consulting firms faced scrutiny when their Consulting Companies revealed that 29% of new contracts
offices were raided in November 2022 after the Spanish in 2021 were awarded to fresh graduates.

Ministry of Labour initiated an investigation without receiving For many young professionals, enduring these demanding
any formal complaints. Inspectors examined whether these work conditions is perceived as a means to advance their
companies adhered to labor laws regarding working hours careers in a highly competitive job market.
and compensation for overtime.

The fines imposed on the ‘Big Four’ consulting firms under-
Raúl de la Torre from Comisiones Obreras, a Spanish trade score the need for improved working conditions and adher-
union, highlighted that Spain’s consulting sector has expe- ence to labor laws within the consulting sector in Spain.
rienced significant workforce fatigue. He mentioned that

there were attempts to include a clause in employment
agreements requiring employees to work up to 12 hours
a day, six days a week, without additional compensation.
This sparked the sector’s first strike, drawing attention to

deteriorating working conditions despite these companies
reporting record profits.
In 2021, the ‘Big Four’ collectively generated €2.5 billion in
revenue, according to Expansión newspaper.

De la Torre argued that working conditions had deterio-
rated since 2008, with many employees earning as little as
€14,000 per year in Madrid.

After extensive negotiations and strikes, an agreement was
reached to increase the salaries of graduate workers from
€14,100 to €15,300 and ensure that workers with three
years’ experience would not earn less than €17,100.

Despite changing expectations about benefits and working
conditions, marathon workdays have persisted in the ‘Big