Three-Minute Early Lunch Break Costs Japanese Worker His Half-day Pay
The city official who works at the waterworks bureau in the western city of Kobe was also fined for the act.
A Japanese worker has been reprimanded for repeatedly leaving his desk during work hours. The city official who works at the waterworks bureau in the western city of Kobe was also fined for the act. However, he only left three minutes before lunchtime to buy food. Over a period of seven months, he had begun his lunch break early 26 times.
A spokesperson told AFP, "The lunch break is from noon to 1 pm. He left his desk before the break." A bureau official told reporters, "It's deeply regrettable that this misconduct took place. We're sorry."
As a punishment, his half-day salary was cut. According to the bureau, the 64-year-old worker had violated a public service law and said that the officials should concentrate on their jobs. The bosses also called a news conference to apologise. The incident irked many Japanese social media users who defended him as the timed duration was quite less.
In a similar incident in February, Japan had suspended an official for a month for leaving office multiple times during working hours to buy a ready-made lunch box. According to the city, over a period of six months, it had amounted to 55 hours.
Japan is known for its punctuality which is also offered in their services. There are also popular for having punctual railway services in the world. Stories of rail company apologising for leaving some early or arriving a few second late has made it to international headlines multiple times.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2018 03:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).