What does it take to be fired?

How about showing up to work for only 8 days in a 5 year period?

NARA — A municipal government worker who received full wages even though he worked only eight days over a five-year period faces dismissal, officials said Monday.

The 42-year-old man took sick leave on numerous occasions from 2001 to 2005, according to the officials.

The city maintains that he broke no law or regulations. Nevertheless, the municipal government is considering dismissing him in accordance with national government guidelines stipulating that national and local governments can dismiss those who are away from work for illness for three years or longer.

The official worked only one day in 2001, six days in 2003 and one day in 2005. At other times, he submitted a doctor’s certificate to take sick leave.

After he last came to work on Dec. 23, 2005, he took paid vacation and has since taken sick leave. The doctor’s certificates he submitted to the city whenever he applied to take sick leave stated different diseases. He has received full wages over the period.

Under in-house regulations, Nara Municipal Government officials can take sick leave for up to 90 days for a single illness. During sick leave, officials are entitled to full amounts of wages.

If they cannot come to work due to illness for a longer period, they will be suspended from duty, during which period they receive 80 percent of their wages.

Even after the period expires, officials can take more sick leave if they submit a doctor’s certificate stating their illness.

It’s great to see that the government is taking swift action [after 5 years] to dismiss employees who don’t show up to work.