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No more slouching, Greeks told | No more slouching, Greeks told |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Greek civil servants have been told that most of them will have to remain at their desks during the hottest months of the summer. | Greek civil servants have been told that most of them will have to remain at their desks during the hottest months of the summer. |
Greece's government traditionally grinds to a halt in August, but this is about to change. | Greece's government traditionally grinds to a halt in August, but this is about to change. |
The interior minister, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, has decreed that from 1 July until 15 September, two out of three civil servants must be at work. | The interior minister, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, has decreed that from 1 July until 15 September, two out of three civil servants must be at work. |
This is the latest initiative to try to make Greece more efficient. | This is the latest initiative to try to make Greece more efficient. |
Siestas | Siestas |
Once upon a time, Greek parents encouraged their children to become civil servants. | Once upon a time, Greek parents encouraged their children to become civil servants. |
Salaries weren't great, but it was a secure job for life, with a good pension that could be taken early. | Salaries weren't great, but it was a secure job for life, with a good pension that could be taken early. |
There was power and little responsiblity, and best of all, minimal working hours, clocking off at 2pm for a siesta, or to start a second job, as well as the opportunity to vanish for the whole of August. | There was power and little responsiblity, and best of all, minimal working hours, clocking off at 2pm for a siesta, or to start a second job, as well as the opportunity to vanish for the whole of August. |
For decades, Greece has been paralysed for the summer because of initially-sanctioned inertia, but not anymore. | |
Perks threatened | Perks threatened |
The government wants to put a halt to these practices and try to bring Greek civil servants in line with the rest of Europe. | The government wants to put a halt to these practices and try to bring Greek civil servants in line with the rest of Europe. |
Whether or not it means that more business will get done in the summer is an open question. | Whether or not it means that more business will get done in the summer is an open question. |
Civil servants can be surly creatures at the best of times, but now that their perks have been cut still further, they're unlikely to become more charming. | Civil servants can be surly creatures at the best of times, but now that their perks have been cut still further, they're unlikely to become more charming. |
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