Teacher Fired After Missing Work for 20 Years

How long can you get away with avoiding work before facing consequences? Most people would assume a week or two at most, but one woman in Italy managed to skive off her job for an astonishing two decades. Cinzia Paolina De Lio, a teacher hired to teach philosophy and literature at a secondary school near Venice, successfully evaded her responsibilities through sick leave, holiday time, and dubious conference permits. However, her lack of commitment and poor performance eventually caught up with her, leading to her dismissal from the school. Let’s delve into the story of Italy’s worst employee and her audacious work-avoidance tactics.

A Two-Decade Absence:
Cinzia Paolina De Lio held a teaching position at a secondary school, where she was expected to impart knowledge about literature and philosophy to her students. However, instead of fulfilling her responsibilities, De Lio used various means to evade work, including claiming sick leave, taking holidays, and obtaining permits to attend conferences. As a result, she spent minimal time in the classroom, leaving her students deprived of proper education and guidance.

Inadequate Performance and Complaints:
During the rare occasions when De Lio did show up for work, her teaching abilities left much to be desired. School inspectors described her lessons as confusing and accused her of improvising her teachings. Moreover, her behavior during oral exams, such as using her phone and sending text messages, led to student protests and strikes. De Lio even distributed marks unrelated to students’ work and had to borrow textbooks from her pupils due to her forgetfulness.

Dismissal and Legal Battle:
Following numerous complaints and poor performance, De Lio was eventually sacked by the school. However, she contested her dismissal in court and initially managed to get her job back. The situation took a turn when the court discovered that De Lio had been present in the classroom for a mere four years out of the 24 she was employed. Subsequently, the court reversed its decision to reinstate her, a ruling that was upheld by the supreme court.

The Aftermath:
Journalists attempted to reach out to De Lio for comment after her dismissal, but she was unavailable as she was enjoying her time at the beach. In a brief response, De Lio expressed her intention to “reconstruct the truth of the facts” surrounding her case, referring to it as an “absolutely unique and surreal story.”