GIFU — The municipal government here has suspended an employee for a month after determining that the 40-year-old verbally harassed a superior by calling him “garbage,” among other things.

According to the Gifu Municipal Government, senior staff of the administrative division harassed the division chief, who was their direct boss, for three months starting in August 2023 while he was working at the city’s environmental department. During that time, the worker is said to have told the boss: “You’re rubbish” and slapped the superior on the back to make him “wake up”. Among other alleged acts, the employee allegedly made the boss sit at work “to reflect” on their actions, disrupting order.

The worker, who was suspended on Oct. 29, was also accused of causing a lack of confidence in city government by repeatedly arguing with and intimidating at least one employee of a business involved in environmental department operations.

The worker allegedly admits to the allegations and is remorseful.

(Japanese original by Yosuke Inagaki, Gifu Office)