iStock/Thinkstock(KOBE, Japan) — Officials in the western Japanese city of Kobe made a public apology on Thursday to a municipal employee for docking his pay after he took his lunch break three minutes early.
“It is very regrettable that this misconduct has happened. We’re very sorry,” a city official said at the press conference, according to local media.
Yet it apparently wasn’t a one-time infraction – the unnamed 64-year old employee allegedly slipped out early 26 times over seven months.
Traditionally, Japanese workers have logged particularly long hours at their jobs – leading to a national debate about work-life balance.
Prior to this incident, officials have been pushing for a new bill that would improve work-life balance among citizens.
One component of the bill would set a cap on the amount of overtime hours an employee can work a month, according to Japanese media.
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