Times Are Hard: Sandra Tejero Fired For Being In A Coma

Thirty six year-old Sandra Tejero of Barcelona was fired from her job at a fishmonger chain called El Punt del Peix, when she missed several days of work because she was in a coma. Tejero’s mother Monserrat Casares told Spanish state television channel TVE that despite knowing she was in a coma following a motorcycle accident on September 15, 2008, Tejero’s managers sent word to the family that she was being dismissed. The company cited Article 54 of the Spanish Statute of Workers which states “repeated and unjustified absences,” are cause for dismissal. So a justified absence would be, what? If she were dead?

On October 1, the family received a follow up letter from the company acknowledging they were not within their rights to fire Tejero and offering her a settlement of 938.89 Euros and 2,416 Euros for indemnification. Tejero who recently awoke from her comatose state, however, has decided to sue her employer to ensure she can return to work.

Woman in coma fired [The Gazette]
Una empresa despide por impuntualidad a una mujer en coma [El Pais]