Punctuality is practiced in the north of Spain especially in the industrialized regions. The south of the country, in comparison, is not as regimented by time and they tend to adopt an attitude which may be perceived as “lax". The people in the south of Spain do not perceive time as a crucial element, which may be reflected in delays in meetings or a lack of distinct time schedules. These two regions value time differently and business in the south may not be deemed to be as reliable.
Many business people may not arrive to the office until 11am. They may take the ‘siesta’ but do not leave their desks until 8-9p.m at night. With Spain under pressure to adjust to richer neighbors’ timetables, the ritual three-hour break for lunch and a nap is disappearing. In private business, breaks longer than an hour are becoming rare as Europe’s single currency, the euro, draws Spanish companies, stock traders and multinationals onto similar schedules with clients across the continent
The ‘siesta’ has been hindered due to the fact the traditional housewife role of women has changed and they are now a valuable part of the workforce. There no one at home making the traditional hot meal for mid-day. In Spain, siesta is not a time to sleep but a time to eat, talk and relax. This is in line with the fact that they are a high context culture and value family and relationships. Shops and businesses are usually opened from 9 or 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 4:30 or 5 pm to 8 or 8:30 pm, though it has become more and more common for businesses to stay open through the traditional ’siesta’ hours. Business establishments are usually closed for a day-and-a-half per week, most often Saturday afternoon and Sunday, although many shops will close only on Sunday.