HR World: 1/15

Indian worker fired for taking longest sickie in history

An Indian civil servant took the art of shirking to a new level when he took unauthorised leave lasting nearly a quarter of a century, according to BBC News.

As every skiver knows, there’s an art to taking a successful sickie. While most managers will turn a blind eye to the occasional suspicious absence, stay away for too long and eyebrows will start to rise. So when electrical engineer AK Verma went on holiday in 1990 and simply never went back to work, his employer – the Indian government’s Central Public Works Department – was understandably perturbed.

Unfortunately, due to the Indian government’s notorious problems with bureaucracy in this area, it took two years to launch an inquiry into the worker’s absence and a further 15 to start formal dismissal proceedings. It took another seven years for a decision to be reached, meaning he was not actually sacked until last year.

It is unclear whether Mr Verma was paid during his absence or, indeed, what he was doing with his time – 24 years seems like a long time to spend watching daytime television even for the most committed slacker.

You WILL go on holiday, Japanese government tells workforce

It’s not something most employees expect to hear at their annual appraisal: “You’re performing really well in this role, but you just don’t take enough holiday.”

But while it sounds far-fetched, this is something that might soon become a reality in Japan, where a new law has been passed requiring companies to ensure their workers take their annual leave, according to the Telegraph.

Although Japanese workers are entitled to at least 10 days of paid leave a year, there’s a cultural expectation they won’t take it. A 2013 study by the Japan Institute for Labour Policy Training found that more than half of employees said they did not have time for holidays, while two-thirds were reluctant to take time off as “it would inconvenience colleagues.”

Respondents also feared that taking time off in a stagnant economy would be seen as a lack of commitment.

It’s hoped the new law will help reverse the rise of the Japanese phenomenon of “karoshi”, or death by overwork, among both younger and older workers.

Asia dominates list of world’s costliest office locations

Seven of the world’s most expensive office locations can be found in Asia – but London tops the poll, according to a new study by CBRE Research.

The latest Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs survey found that prime occupancy costs of US$274 per sq ft per annum in London’s West End made it the highest-priced place in the world to have an office. But although the City of London also made an appearance on the list, at number 8, only one other non-Asian market – Moscow – made it into the top 10.

The 10 most expensive markets (in US$ per sq ft per annum):

1. London (West End), United Kingdom – 273.63
2. Hong Kong (Central), Hong Kong – 250.61
3. Beijing (Finance Street), China – 197.75
4. Beijing (CBD), China – 189.39
5. Moscow, Russian Federation – 165.05
6. New Delhi (Connaught Place – CBD), India – 158.47
7. Hong Kong (West Kowloon), Hong Kong – 153.65
8. London (City), United Kingdom – 152.67
9. Tokyo (Marunouchi Otemachi), Japan – 136.46
10. Shanghai (Pudong), China – 127.89

Want to keep fit in a US office? Just head for the loo

If you had to take a guess at what goes on in your toilet at work, other than the obvious, what would you say? Applying make-up? Bitching about the boss? Having a discreet cry?

While these are all reasonable answers, it seems some of the office toilet activities indulged in by our friends over the Pond are somewhat more bizarre. According to the latest Hygiene Matters Consumer Survey by global hygiene company SCA, 8 per cent of American workers have admitted to eating in the loo while 7 per cent have exercised there. Five per cent have used the facilities to have a secret smoke and a further 5 per cent to catch up on sleep.

A less surprising 23 per cent have used their workplace toilets to talk on the phone while 25 per cent have gone there to text.

For some, the office loo is a refuge from the stresses of work. But while women are more likely to go there to deal with the frustration of everyday working life (23 versus 17 per cent), men are more likely than women to use the facilities to get some alone time (21 versus 18 per cent).

Ten per cent of all employees have also indulged in a good cry in the toilet, including 14 per cent of women and six per cent of men.

Given the variety of things people seem to get up to in their workplace facilities, some of the study’s other findings make for slightly queasy reading: 10 per cent of workers admitted they sometimes don’t wash their hands after using the toilet, and 1 per cent said they never do.

About the author

Rhianon Howells

The former editor of a leading trade magazine, Rhianon Howells has extensive experience of writing for both business and consumer titles, including The Guardian. In addition to writing about HR, she specialises in health, fitness, leisure and hospitality.