Court Conflict in the Calafell Property Registry: Employees Accuse Manager of Harassment. A conflict has erupted in the Calafell Property Registry between female employees and the new manager. The employees have filed lawsuits alleging harassment, while the manager has responded with a counterclaim. The situation has escalated to a court case.
A serious labor conflict has erupted at the Calafell Land Registry Office (Catalonia), which for several years has defied resolution within the team. Five female staff members have been on extended medical leave after accusing the new manager of creating unbearable working conditions and exerting psychological pressure. The situation has escalated into a legal battle with mutual lawsuits and demands for compensation.
Mutual accusations and lawsuits
The conflict began shortly after the appointment of a new registrar in 2018. Within a few months, staff faced attempts to change their work schedule, which caused strong dissatisfaction within the team. According to court records, one of the employees was expelled from the manager’s office amid shouting, after which the office saw a wave of sick leaves citing stress and anxiety.
In 2023, five female employees filed a complaint with the College of Registrars of Catalonia, reporting a “toxic atmosphere” and constant outbursts of aggression from the manager. After an unsuccessful attempt at mediation, the registrar filed a counterclaim, accusing the employees of slander, insults, and pressure, and demanded 60,000 euros in compensation. In response, four employees filed a labor lawsuit for harassment, demanding an equivalent compensation amount for each.
Conflict details and the parties’ positions
The case files describe the manager's behavior as unpredictable: from hours-long stories that disrupted work to sudden outbursts of anger accompanied by shouting, slamming doors, and insults. Female employees claim they were subjected to humiliation and ridicule, and that an atmosphere of fear and instability prevailed in the workplace. The registrar himself denies the accusations, citing the lack of complaints to the labor inspectorate and positive results from internal surveys. In his view, the employees’ actions are intended to exert pressure in order to improve working conditions and increase pay.
Work organization in the Land Registry differs from that in standard government institutions: the registrar hires staff independently, and employees’ salaries depend on the volume of transactions, making up a share of the office’s income. Due to prolonged sick leaves, the employees' earnings dropped sharply, adding to workplace tension. Most employees have between 25 and 41 years of experience and are approaching retirement.
Reaction of the professional community
The Dean of the College of Registrars of Catalonia confirmed that the organization attempted to resolve the dispute, but once the case was transferred to court, opportunities for intervention were exhausted. Both sides are now awaiting judicial decisions. Such labor disputes in Catalonia's real estate sector are rare; however, experts note that workplace tension can have serious consequences for office operations and the quality of public service.
Issues of labor conflicts and the protection of workers' rights remain relevant in Catalonia amid other high-profile disputes in the region. For example, a previous scandal over housing rental was discussed in parliament, when Junts deputies drew attention after a failed vote, which was covered in detail in the article about the consequences for tenants in Spain.
