Sicilian Rakes in Cash 'Shifting Snow' in Summer Heat

W300

While holiday-makers sought shelter from sweltering summer heat in the Italian southern city of Palermo, one man was claiming overtime for shifting snow, the Repubblica newspaper said Thursday.

Salvatore Di Grazia claimed, and received, overtime payment for shifting snow off the streets of the island's sunny capital throughout the summer.

"There is a reason Sicily spends eight times more than Lombardy on the salaries of its 17,000 employees: here there really is a lot to do," the newspaper quipped, comparing the island to the developed north.

Salvatore Di Grazia, who works for the civil protection agency in the province of Palermo, claimed 17 hours overtime for shifting snow in April, when the minimum temperature registered was 10°C (50°F).

He went on to claim for 50 hours in May, 38 hours in June, 44 hours in July and 200 hours in August, when the temperature registered 30°C in the shade.

In total, Di Grazia was paid for 42 hours 30 minutes overtime before the provincial authorities blocked the payments, the paper said.

Comments 1
Default-user-icon mazen (Guest) over 12 years

In lebanon, no need to be inventive in billing..as they get paid anyway for doing absolutely nothing!