Mallorca hospitals: new rules for 12-hour shifts

Mallorca’s public hospitals in the Balearic Islands get a route to voluntary 12-hour shifts: Balearic health negotiators approve common rules on Monday, 9 November. The rules cover hospital units across the islands, but no team can switch without broad support from its staff.

The Balearic health ministry says the change is intended to improve working conditions and help staff balance work and personal life. Before longer shifts begin, each unit must go through assessment and monitoring to safeguard care quality, patient safety and working conditions. Different shift patterns can run side by side in one hospital service where circumstances allow.

The negotiators also approve changes to career progression. A simplified process for 2026 will remain available until the new standard assessment system is fully in place. Permanent staff who move to a higher professional grade will be able to have earlier experience recognised towards their career progression.

Staff joining humanitarian missions will keep their full pay for the first month. Faster permit decisions are also intended to help them respond to disasters, humanitarian crises and international emergencies.

Topics: Jobs & labour · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com