Man Skipped Work For 6 Years And Was Only Found Out After He Was Set To Win An Award

A man in Spain took things to a whole new level in a world where many individuals think they could get away with missing work for a day or two.

Introducing Joaquín García, 69, the man who went six years without a single day of work missed—until, ironically, he was recognized with an award for his extended tenure.

It all began quite casually. Joaquín had worked for the local government for almost 20 years as a building supervisor at a water treatment plant in Cádiz, Spain. 

As the work atmosphere grew more stressful over time, Joaquín decided to take a very different coping strategy: he just stopped coming in.

The employee hadn't come to work for six years Getty Images

This method was amazingly successful for a full six years.

Despite being unemployed, Joaquín continued to receive his $41,500 annual pay during this period.

How anything like this could go overlooked may be a mystery. 

The intricate structure of the workplace, bureaucratic control, and a healthy dose of good fortune all play a role in the solution.

Due to a misunderstanding between two departments, each believing the other was in charge of supervising Joaquín's responsibilities, his absence was readily forgotten.

When Joaquín received an award nomination for his 20 years of devotion to the organization, the situation took a humorous turn. 

When his managers summoned him in for the ceremony and found out he hadn't been to the office in six years, you can only imagine how surprised they were.

According to the BBC, the missing employee was later compelled to repay $30,000, the highest amount for which he may face penalties.

When pressed, Joaquín acknowledged not working but said he had been bullied at work and had initially quit going to avoid confrontation. 

The man's absence wasn't noticed for six years Getty Images

Making the most of his unscheduled sabbatical, he insisted that he had been studying philosophy in his free time.

"I wondered whether he was still working there, had he retired, had he died? But the payroll showed he was still receiving a salary," deputy mayor Jorge Blas told Spanish newspaper El Mundo, according to The Local.

“I called him up and asked him, ‘What did you do yesterday? The month before, the month before that?’ He didn’t know what to say,” Blas said.

As reported by the BBC, Joaquín ultimately received the maximum penalty of $30,000 for his prolonged absence. 

But he started a petition to overturn the fine, and some even applauded his boldness and laughed at the absurdity of the whole thing.

So, the next time you dream about taking a short break from work, remember Joaquín García, the man who turned an unintentionally extended leave into a legendary story.

If you decide to follow in his footsteps, just don't expect to win any prizes!