Work-Life Balance and the Protection of the Emotional and Mental Health of Adolescent Children

Commentary on Ruling No. 519/2026 of the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (Las Palmas), 14 April 2026

Abstract

Ruling No. 519/2026 of the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (Las Palmas), of 14 April 2026, recognizes a worker’s right to adapt his working hours by changing from an afternoon shift to a fixed morning shift, from Monday to Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The significance of this ruling lies in the fact that the Court considers that the request for working time adaptation under Article 34.8 of the Workers’ Statute must be assessed, in this case, not only from a gender and childhood perspective, but also from a differentiated adolescence perspective, taking into account the situation of a minor daughter presenting self-harming behaviour, negative thoughts, and suicidal ideation.