In Spain, there's a government employee who makes politicians look downright industrious.
Joaquin Garcia, 69, did not show up to work for at least six years at the water department in Cadiz. He may have missed as many as 14 years, says The Guardian.
The engineer, who was paid about $40,000 a year to monitor a waste treatment plant, was finally caught when no one could find him to give him an award for "two decades of loyal and dedicated service."
How did he get away with it? According to reports, supervisors at the water company thought he worked for the city and the city thought he worked for the water department.
Garcia has allegedly gone into hiding and denies the allegations. He told the court he was "the victim of workplace bullying because of his family’s socialist politics," reports The Guardian.
Garcia said he has become an avid reader of philosophical texts, but is now seeing a psychiatrist.
If you are already plotting something similar, know that Garcia was fined about $30,000, the maximum the law would allow. According to my math, he netted $210,000 over the last six years.
Not bad work if you can not get it.
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