Feijóo already reduced sick leave to "absentism" when he cut it in the Xunta

In late 2023, former Galician regional president Alberto Núñez Feijóo has been accused of using the term "absentism" to describe sickness-related absences during his tenure in the Galician government, a move critics say was part of a broader political strategy to justify austerity measures. The controversy emerged as part of ongoing debates over labor policies and public administration reforms, with Feijóo now positioning himself as a potential candidate for Spain’s national leadership. According to reports, the term "absentism" has become central to discussions around labor productivity and fiscal responsibility, particularly among conservative groups and business associations. The practice of categorizing sick leave under the umbrella of "absentism" began during Feijóo's time in power, when he oversaw significant changes to how public sector workers were compensated during periods of illness. In early 2012, amid a severe economic downturn and declining public revenues, the ruling Popular Party (PP) introduced legislation aimed at reducing financial burdens on the regional government. This law included provisions that drastically cut the supplementary payments made to public employees who were on temporary disability due to non-work-related illnesses or accidents. Under this new policy, the amount of compensation varied depending on the number of days of absence within a calendar year, with the highest level of support reserved for absences exceeding 20 days. For example, during the first three days of sickness, the Xunta paid up to 50% of the employee’s salary, while after the third day, the rate dropped to 40%, and further reductions applied for subsequent absences. Only after 20 days did the payment increase again, reaching 75% of the base salary, and only for longer absences would the full salary be restored. These cuts were intended to reduce public spending, but they also sparked criticism from unions and legal experts who argued that the policy disproportionately affected vulnerable workers. By 2015, some of these harsher restrictions had been softened through amendments to the Public Employment Law, though many of the core provisions remained in place. It wasn’t until 2019 that the Galician government fully reintroduced a system allowing for full salary coverage starting from the first day of sickness, although this came with exceptions such as the initial three-day period without full pay. Despite these adjustments, the legacy of the earlier austerity measures continued to influence public discourse. Feijóo frequently cited the reduction in sickness-related absences as evidence of improved efficiency and cost savings, claiming that his policies had led to an estimated saving of nearly 26 million euros. He framed this as a success story of fiscal discipline, emphasizing that lower absenteeism equated to greater productivity and, by extension, more responsible public services. However, opponents argue that the terminology used to describe these absences obscured the human impact, transforming legitimate health-related absences into a political issue rather than a social one. As Feijóo seeks to position himself as a viable contender for national office, the historical context of his governance continues to shape both his political narrative and the broader conversation around labor rights and public finance in Spain. The debate over how to balance fiscal responsibility with worker welfare remains unresolved, with different stakeholders offering competing visions of what constitutes effective governance.