Business · Economy · 4 hrs ago
Work absences add to Spain’s service-sector inflation pressures
A small restaurant in Madrid hired four cooks after two workers’ absences left meals unserved.
The owner said one absence was due to illness, while another worker quit without warning.
Work absences have risen since the pandemic and are higher in Spain than the European average, with the services sector particularly affected.
Spain’s inflation rate was 4.9% in September, compared with 3.8% across the eurozone.
The article says persistent service-sector inflation, strong demand and the cost of staffing extra workers can all contribute to higher prices.
It also points to a dispute over productivity: output per hour has risen, but output per worker has not.
Absences can raise costs and weaken productivity, because two cooks may do the work that four are paid to cover.
Work absences are adding to Spain’s persistent service-sector inflation, according to an El Mundo opinion article.
The article says Spain’s inflation was 4.9% in September, compared with 3.8% in the eurozone.
It describes a Madrid bar owner who doubled the number of cooks after absences left the restaurant unable to serve meals.
The article argues that staffing absences can raise business costs, push up prices and reduce productivity.
It says Spain’s work-absence rate is higher than the European average, particularly affecting services.
- Who
- Spanish service-sector businesses, including a small bar-restaurant in Madrid.
- What
- Work absences are adding to inflationary pressure and weakening productivity.
- When
- The article was published on 17 October 2026 and updated on 18 October 2026.
- Where
- Spain, with a Madrid bar-restaurant as an example.
- Why
- The article says employers may need extra staff to cover absences, raising costs and prices.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A Madrid bar-restaurant owner said he increased his cooks from two to four after both original cooks failed to show up and the restaurant could not serve meals.
Spain’s inflation was 4.9%, compared with 3.8% in the eurozone, according to the article.
El Mundo published the article.
El Mundo updated the article.
- Spain’s inflation
- 4.9% in September
- Eurozone inflation
- 3.8% in September
- Madrid restaurant staffing
- The owner increased the number of cooks from two to four
- Work absences
- Higher in Spain than the European average, according to the article
- Productivity example
- Two cooks do the same work as four