The Scottish government has confirmed that around 800 public sector workers are being paid despite having no jobs. One National Health Service employee has received a full salary and benefits for 17 years despite not having an actual job. Under Scotland's policy against "compulsory redundancy," any workers whose jobs become obsolete are kept on "redeployment" lists and allowed to remain on the payroll while waiting for suitable positions. The estimated cost of paying people to do nothing is £27 million ($36 million) per year, but the actual cost to taxpayers is likely far higher, because several public bodies have refused to disclose salary information for hundreds of these workers.

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