"Saving on Toilet Water, Even Bathroom Needs Are Taken Care of at the Office"
A shocking story has emerged about employees who save on their own water and electricity bills by taking water from the company water purifier and charging multiple portable batteries at work. Online, there is a heated debate over how far it is appropriate to use company supplies for personal purposes.
Recently, a post titled "An Employee Who Doesn't Use the Bathroom at Home" was uploaded to an online community. The author wrote, "There is a penny pincher at my company," adding, "This employee takes water from the company purifier before leaving work to drink at home, and carries around about ten portable batteries to charge them at the office."
Even more shocking is the way this employee uses the restroom. The author explained, "Apparently, they don't use the bathroom at home and hold it until they get to work because they want to save on toilet flushing costs. If they use the toilet at home, it gets dirty, which means they have to clean it, and that uses more water."
"All for Less Than 10,000 Won"... Netizens Appalled
The majority of netizens who read the story reacted critically, saying, "It's pathetic," "Even if you save, it's less than 10,000 won a month. Is it worth losing your dignity over that?" "How much difference does saving on electricity actually make?" "You must be getting rich," and "This is just foolish and pitiful." However, some defended the employee, arguing, "If it doesn't violate company policy, isn't it a personal choice?"
Charging Your Phone at Work Without Permission Can Be 'Theft'... A Different Culture in Japan
This kind of controversy is also a frequent topic in Japan. However, in Japan, using electricity at work or in public places to charge personal devices without permission can be considered theft. According to local media, in 2004, a businessman was booked without detention on theft charges after charging his laptop for five minutes at an outlet in Nagoya Station while on a business trip. The loss amounted to just "1 yen (about 10 won)." In 2007, a middle school student was also charged with theft after charging a device for 15 minutes at a convenience store outlet.
On this topic, Japanese lawyer Makoto Tanihara explained on his blog, "Under criminal law, electricity is considered property," and "Unauthorized use constitutes theft, even if the loss is only 1 yen." He cautioned that "many companies also take issue with unauthorized charging," urging people to be careful.
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