in Spain, making time for family and leisure often takes precedence.

Business vs Family Life

for Spanish business people, it is just as ethically important to make time for
family. For example, many businesses close in the early afternoon so families
can gather for the afternoon meal, the main meal of the day and an
important gathering time for families. Some businesses re-open in mid-
afternoon, but many don’t. This is also apparent in the ample vacation time
Spanish professionals take. According to the website Countries and Their
Cultures, the ability of a Spanish family to take a month-long vacation is a key
symbol of wealth and success.

Corporate Structure

Spain has two business cultures. Larger businesses that have significant foreign
involvement or interaction have usually adopted many international
management techniques and styles. Smaller companies, however, retain
many of their traditional values and practices. Hierarchy is as an important
aspect of Spanish business and social culture, and Spanish business ethics
dictate that employees respect authority and follow the orders of their
superiors. Only the boss holds decision-making power, and may take a hands-
on approach to management, but rarely solicits input from subordinates.

Personal Relationships

Cultivating a personal connection is crucial to establishing a business

relationship, and the right personal contacts can help open doors. It’s also
important to choose your business connections carefully, because in Spanish
workplace ethics, once you’ve established a business relationship with
someone, it’s difficult to transition to doing business with someone else. Spain’s
ethical system also favors interacting primarily with people of the same rank,
and it is considered inappropriate to relate primarily with people of a lesser
rank.
Gender Issues

Ethical treatment of women is in transition, with women gradually winning more

respect and equality. Just a few decades ago, married women had to seek
permission from their husbands for many things. Now, however, there are an
increasing number of independent and employed women, but they may not
always enjoy equal status to men. Even if they hold high-ranking positions, they
may still be subject to traditional stereotypes, and expected to care for the
children and household in addition to meeting the demands of their jobs.
However, according to Countries and Their Cultures, women found few barriers
and restrictions when they started moving into the workplace, and working
women can expect many of the same freedoms in the workplace as women in
countries where they have been part of the workforce for much longer.