Director sacked after forcing state museum employees to work in hallway

The employees of the state's Natural History Museum were forced to carry their office furniture to a hallway in the building, and their annual and administrative leaves were canceled to force them to continue working in the hallway for a week. The director responsible for the maltreatment was removed from the post a week later.

Monday February 01 2021 04:32 pm

Müzeyyen Yüce / DUVAR

Museum employees who work for the state's Natural History Museum in the capital Ankara were fined with a week-long punishment to sit in the hallway during their work hours, with no explanation from the administration.

The museum staff employed by Turkey's General Directorate of Research and Exploration (MTA) reported being forced to move their office furniture to a hallway in the building on Jan. 22, and being forced to complete their shift there.

"They took photos and videos to see we were there, and an executive came to get our signature twice a day. They basically took roll call," one of the employees said.

The entire staff were forced to abide by the punishment which was issued by MTA Director Cengiz Erdem. Also, their annual and administrative leaves were canceled and they were banned from receiving health reports excusing them from work.

"It's completely unacceptable to force employees to do this during the pandemic, and they won't even give an explanation why," said one of the employees.

MTA Director Erdem was removed from his post via presidential decree on Jan. 29, a week after issuing the order for the punishment.