Spotify’s request to let staff work night shifts has been rejected by an appeals court in Sweden, which upheld a decision by the administrative court. The streaming giant had been seeking an exception to a rule that ensures at least 11 consecutive non-work hours every day – which must include the hours between midnight and 5am – so that employees are able to be rested. Spotify said an exception was required for 250 employees to “maintain the operation of the company’s services and protect the large amount of personal data that the company has.” But the appeals court said that the services provided by Spotify were not vital enough to society to warrant an exception to the rule, as can be made for services such as hospitals. “Since the main business Spotify conducts is audio streaming, primarily music, the court of appeals considers that work on operational disruptions weighs less heavily when assessing whether there are special reasons for an exemption,” ruled court judge Daniel Sjölund.
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