Have you ever sloped off from work? 

Now be honest. A day here, a day there perhaps, but I’ll bet you could never conceive of getting away with something like that for long.

However Spanish civil servant, Joaquín García, got away with it for 6 years no less. 

It seems that for some reason he was in line to be awarded with a celebratory plaque at his job with a local water board in Cadiz, Spain.

There was only one problem – no one could remember the last time he’d been seen at work.

Trying to clarify the position, his boss Jorge Blas Fernández, was left wondering whether or not he was still employed there, retired or maybe even died, but the payroll showed he was still receiving a salary.

After confirming with a fellow employee that no one had seen García in the office for a number of years, Fernández got in contact with the man in order to get to the bottom of what had been going on.

“I asked him: what are you doing? What did you do yesterday? And the previous month? He could not answer,” Fernández said. 

Although his office had sat empty for at least six years during which time, he had been collecting an annual salary of $41,500 (£32,307).

In his defence, Garcia blamed his absence on alleged workplace bullying for his absence, and said he’d move to a post where there was no work to be done.

A court has since fined Garcia $30,000 (£23,355) the maximum allowable penalty.

However it seems that Garcia has now retired from his job. 

Wonder if they held a retirement party for him!

Of course being a Tuesday, I was joined once more by Margaret Mills who’s subject today was ESSEX GOLD – better known as oysters.

If you missed what Margaret said you can listen again here: –

Hope to catch you again next week,
Scott