Mental Health Apology
Employers' Association Apologizes After President's Disparaging Remarks on Youth Mental Health Leave
The president of the employers' federation in Castilla-La Mancha has apologized after calling young workers on mental health leave "memos" — Spanish slang for fools or idiots. Ángel Nicolás, who leads CECAM and serves as vice president of Spain's national business federation CEOE, made the remarks at a business forum in Guadalajara on June 13, sparking immediate outrage across Spain. Levante EMV reported the story drew national attention within 24 hours.
Nicolás said: "There is a group of fools who now, because their girlfriend left them, take a mental health leave." After political and public pressure mounted over several days, he issued a formal apology on June 17, calling his words "unfortunate" — though he also insisted they were "taken out of context," according to La Opinión de Murcia.
What Nicolás Said at the Guadalajara Forum
Speaking at the "IV Foro de Excelencia Empresarial" on June 13, Nicolás argued that young workers lack resilience. He claimed mental health leave had become a "catch-all" excuse for absenteeism. His specific claim — that young people fake illness after a breakup — was captured on audio and video. Clips spread quickly on social media, according to El Día.
In his apology, Nicolás said he did not intend to belittle people with real clinical illnesses. He framed his concern as frustration over "fraudulent" use of the sick leave system. He also stressed the financial pressure on small businesses. But critics said the apology did not go far enough, as reported by El Correo Web.
Government and Unions Hit Back Hard
Minister of Labor Yolanda Díaz called the comments "unacceptable" and said they lacked empathy. She wrote that "decency is not at odds with being a business leader." Regional president Emiliano García-Page also distanced himself, calling mental health a "primary challenge" for Castilla-La Mancha's health services, according to Diario de Mallorca.
Trade unions were even sharper. Paco de la Rosa of CCOO accused Nicolás of "extreme cruelty" and showing "profound ignorance" of Spain's workforce. UGT echoed those words. Both unions argued that precarious work conditions — low wages and insecure contracts — are a leading cause of mental health problems among young workers, as reported by La Provincia.
Mental Health Leaves Are Rising Fast Across Spain
The controversy comes against a backdrop of real data. Mental health and behavioral disorder leaves rose 15.8% in Spain in 2023 compared to the year before, according to the Ministry of Social Security. These leaves last far longer than average — between 90 and 110 days — compared to the national average of just 38 days for all types of illness, per El Periódico Mediterráneo.
One in three Spaniards under 30 reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2023 — the highest rate of any age group in the country, according to the Barómetro de Juventud y Salud. Spain's Psychologists' Council also weighed in, clarifying that sick leaves are granted by doctors, not self-issued by employees. They warned that comments like Nicolás's discourage people from seeking help, as noted by Información.
The Deeper Fight Over Work, Wages, and a 37.5-Hour Week
This row is part of a bigger battle. Spain's government is pushing to cut the legal work week from 40 to 37.5 hours. The CEOE has strongly opposed that plan. Absenteeism is estimated to cost the Spanish economy around €25 billion a year in direct and indirect costs, a figure business groups cite repeatedly to argue the current system is unsustainable, according to La Opinión de A Coruña.
Labor advocates counter that the real cause of rising sick leave is a broken labor market — not lazy workers. They point to low wages, high rents, and job insecurity as the true drivers of burnout among young people. Analysts say Nicolás's comments have weakened the CEOE's position in ongoing labor negotiations by handing the government a political weapon, as reported by La Opinión de Murcia.
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