Early birds get bonuses

Early birds get bonuses

SEMARANG, Central Java: The provincial government hoped to
beat many employees' die-hard habit of prolonging the two-day
Idul Fitri holiday by giving a bonus of Rp 20,000 (approximately
US$8) to people who showed up for duty as scheduled yesterday.

Antara reported that the office of the Central Java provincial
secretariat spent Rp 8.28 million yesterday on the 414 of its
some 1,500 employees who arrived at 7 a.m. sharp for roll call.

"This is a spontaneous gesture to appreciate the punctuality
of the employees," office chief Poedjirahardjo said.

The other 1,086 workers who did not show up on time were not
called "lazy", however. Poedjirahardjo said there were many who
were on leave.

"Those who were intentionally absent will be punished," he
said.

Routines at government offices do not usually return to normal
until around a week after Idul Fitri. Many employees only show up
to punch the time clock and leave without doing anything. (swe)