I been associated with (Australian) Government projects and whilst I don't know much about what their own staff got paid, I can tell you not one person there had ever still been in the office by 5:01pm. Managers didn't even have mobile phone numbers of their staff even if they wanted to contact them after hours. People were told not to come to work for things like "multicultural awareness day" and a dozen other special days that never considered a holiday at any business group.
Several of them lamented that every department had "slackers" who'd probably be fired from any real business, but basically couldn't get sacked if they tried due to Government policies.
It's not my thing, but there are reasons people choose these places.