GOVERNMENT offices are urged to continue to implement alternative work arrangements with their employees amid modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the Civil Service Commission in Davao Region (CSC-Davao) said.
CSC-Davao chief human resource specialist Danilo Jessie B. Dumandagan reminded government offices that imposing alternative work arrangements is allowed for “the duration of the State of National Emergency or until lifted by the President.”
The CSC recently issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 10 series of 2020 or the Revised Interim Guidelines for Alternative Work Arrangements and Support Mechanisms for Workers in the Government During the Period of State of National Emergency Due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
Dumandagan said it revised MC 07, series of 2020, which stipulated that alternative work arrangements shall be adopted only for the “duration of the State of Public Health Emergency.”
MC 10 further noted that it shall take effect “retroactively on March 16, 2020, the date of the President’s declaration placing the country under the State of Calamity and the imposition of enhanced community quarantine throughout Luzon and other areas, and shall remain in force until the State of National Emergency has been lifted by the President of the Philippines.”
It also expanded the flexible work scheme options to five: work-from-home, skeleton workforce, compressed or four-day work week, staggered working hours, and other alternative work arrangements such as a combination of the work arrangements or internal agreement with the heads of offices.
Dumandagan said government employees may request to adopt a work scheme or change its current work arrangement if possible and necessary.
“For example, nag lockdown ang kanilang barangay at di sila makalabas, pwede naman na kausapin niya ang kanyang division chief and the unit head will adjust ng kanyang alternative work arrangement. Pero dapat aprobado pa rin ng head of agency (if the residence of the employee in a barangay where a lockdown is imposed, they may inform and discuss with their superiors to adjust his or her work arrangement and shall be approved by the head of the agency),” he said.
“Kung sa tingin naman ng head of agency, it is not necessary, gagawan na lang ng paraan paano masundo (if the agency head finds it unnecessary, they must find a way to enable the employee to report to the office),” he added.
Based on the latest circular, government agencies should provide “reasonable transportation facilities and housing quarters to employees assigned as a skeleton workforce, whenever practicable.”
Meanwhile, Dumandagan emphasized that government employees shall continue to render the required 40 working hours every week while on a flexible work arrangement.
“Only the President may allow reduction of the working hours based on the Executive Order 212,” he said.