ATHENS – A number of workers at a tax office in Greece' capital – neither now many nor where they work being disclosed – will go before a disciplinary board because they reportedly weren't doing their jobs.

The order came from the head of the Independent Public Revenue Authority Giorgos Pitsilis after complaints were filed by members of the public who said the workers closed the office for a day and wouldn't answer the phones there.

The practice may be more widespread as the report said there will be an investigation to see if workers in other tax offices were doing the same so they didn't have to show up to work.

A probe earlier had been ordered by the New Democracy government about an untold number of civil servants who were being required to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic but reportedly weren't, nor answering phones.

It's a common occurrence in Greek public offices for workers to do little work nor answer phones and it's almost impossible to discipline them or force them to work because of the strength of unions and their votes for political leaders.