He worked from 8am-12pm everyday; he was the best salesman and worker in the company, he won awards, deals and everything.

Then one day he suddenly arrived at 8 worked till 4 then got up and left the office and said "osakini shitureishimasu" - "Sorry for leaving before you".

He continued this work pattern for almost a year and during that time his work input still continued to be impressive and they found his new behaviour strange, everyday he would leave at 4pm but his work output was the same, in fact it had actually improved.

It wasn't until the yearly audit they realised his working hours were marked down 8am till 12 pm  for everyday he had been leaving "early".

So they hauled him up ready to give him a roaring dressing down, screaming at him for his impudence.

When chastised he said, "Well I should have explained but it is a private matter and as our society knows keeping personal life in work is very important but my wife has cancer, I return home as early as I can, she is unconsciousness most times, but I like to work beside her at nights, I was doing the same work till 12, just to be by the bedside of my wife it comforts her and myself in the little time we have left".

The company refused to accept; even though he showed proof of working late, his wife's illness, and the work he had done.

The company requested he pay all his overtime money back.

He took them to tribunal...on his own legal expenses against the company, which unbelievably took on the case.

The outcome ?

He won.

Thank Christ