A town hall employee in the region of Metora has returned to work after a 13-year sick leave, sparking a comprehensive review of attendance and productivity within the municipality.
The extended absence came to light following an audit ordered by Meteora’s new mayor, Lefteris Avramopoulos, who upon taking office, sought to assess the efficiency of the municipal workforce.
The review revealed that several employees were making only sporadic appearances, with the most extreme case being the employee on a decade-long-plus sick leave.
In response to the findings, Mr. Avramopoulos ordered the immediate return of all municipal employees to their duties and initiated surprise inspections across various municipal departments.
The mayor’s directive underscores a zero-tolerance policy towards lax attendance, underscoring the new administration’s commitment to public service.
“We are not playing games here,” Mr. Avramopoulos said. “Both elected officials and staff are duty-bound to work diligently every day to realise the vision of the municipality we aspire to and rightfully owe to our citizens. There will be no leniency,” he affirmed.
The mayor’s actions reflect a broader initiative to instil a culture of accountability and productivity in the public sector, ensuring that the municipality functions effectively for its residents.