COVID-19: Govt departments, ministries allow work from home to staff, staggered timings suggested
First Published: 16th April, 2021 16:59 IST
Amidst an exponential growth in COVID-19 infections being reported in the country, various ministries of the Government of India have advised their employees to work from home and officers above
Amidst an exponential growth in COVID-19 infections being reported in the country, various ministries of the Government of India have advised their employees to work from home and officers above the Under Secretary rank have been asked to report to the office in staggered timings.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Information and Broad casting Ministry, and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has asked its officers to reach the office with staggered timings. Those who are living in COVID-19 containment zones can avoid coming to the office.
Earlier, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in February had already asked its staff to work from home with restricted required attendance.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has given three time slots for officers to work, from 9 am to 5:30 pm, 9:30am to 6 pm and 10 am to 6:30 pm.
The Ministry has also said that similar practice mat followed by autonomous bodies, media units and PSUs.
Similarly, the MHA in the latest written communication has said that all officers who attend office can stagger timings with entry into the office spread between 9 am to 10 am with corresponding office exit timings. This will also avoid the rush in commuting, as also in lifts and corridors.
Up to the Under-Secretary level, officers are allowed to work from home up to a minimum restricted attendance but above Under-Secretary there is no exemption from coming from the office.
DoPT in its circular dated February 13, 2021, has already said that no biometric attendance should be taken and also as far as possible meetings should be done virtually.
Officers residing in the containment zone should be work from home until their area de-notifies but must be available on phone and all means of communication.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s office memorandum, all the Director/Deputy Directors have to prepare a roster to ensure that fifty per cent of Group B and C employees may attend office every day and the remaining fifty per cent staff be advised to work from home, adding that attendance of one person per section should be maintained.
The memorandum further directed officials working from home to be available on the telephone or electronic means of communication at all times and further said that these officials should attend office if called for an exigency of work.
Stating that the working hours for all employees attending office should be staggered, the memorandum further suggested that three groups of employees may be formed and asked to attend office in the following timings – 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm and 10:00 am to 6: 30 pm. (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live #NEWeatherUpdate: IMD predicts rainfall in 7 NE states in next 5 days
19th May 2024Live CAA will not be implemented in areas under 6th Schedule in Northeast: Pradyot Debbarma
19th May 2024Live Tripura: Notorious human trafficker Hannan Miah wanted by NIA arrested
19th May 2024Live 65 people from the Bawm Tribe in Bangladesh enter Mizoram
19th May 2024WE RECOMMEND
IMD issues red alert for Delhi; temperature likely to touch 44 degrees
Senior IMD scientist Naresh Kumar said that the current situation will prevail for the next week.
19th May 2024Mukesh Ambani to host Anant-Radhika’s second pre-wedding function on a grand cruise ship: Check details
The Ambani family will reportedly host the second pre-wedding function on a cruise ship off the coast of South France.
19th May 2024Lok Sabha elections: Heavy security checks in Mumbai ahead of fifth phase of voting
Security forces have intensified vigil in Mumbai, a day before the metropolitan city is set to go into polls in the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on Monday (May 20). The city remains under tight security cover as large-scale spot checks are being carried out by stationary and mobile teams. The city remains under […]
19th May 2024Bihar: Shahi litchi of Muzaffarpur to remain costly due to heatwave spells
The heatwave conditions swept across various districts of Bihar.
19th May 2024“Swati Maliwal ka Sach”: AAP attacks Maliwal after purported clip from day of “assault” goes viral
In a post on social media platform X, AAP stated, "Swati Maliwal ka sach (Swati Maliwal's truth)." The post refers to a news story with a purported video clip of the Rajya Sabha MP and security personnel at CM Kejriwal's house on May 13. Delhi Police say that the video is yet to be authenticated by them.
17th May 2024