New Covid 19 office guidelines for central government employees: Check fresh notice by MHA

As Covid 19 cases continue to scale new peaks with every passing day, the central and state governments have modified office rules and working culture. Work from home is back and so is staggered office timings. In the recent development, Central government employees have been allowed to work from home. It has also introduced staggered office timings to ensure central government employees do not contract the virus.  

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The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday night has issued a notice to its employees in this regard. In its notice, the Home Ministry has asked its officers up to the level of under-secretary to avail the work from home option.  "The Deputy Secretary and above-ranking officials have been asked to come to the office regularly. These officers have been given the option to stagger timing between 9 AM and 10 AM. In view of the unprecedented rise in the numbers of COVID-19 cases in Delhi, it has been decided to take measures to prevent its spread," said a report by DNA.

Meanwhile, a report has claimed that 59% employers in India are not in favour of 'work from home'.  

The Home Ministry has said that only 50% of staff need to attend office, stating that the staggered timing will avoid the rush in commuting as also in lifts and corridors.  

Officers who will physically attend office will have to strictly follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, including wearing mask, physical distancing, use of sanitiser and frequent handwashing with soap and water.  

"Crowding in lifts, staircases, corridors, common areas including refreshment kiosk and parking areas is to be strictly avoided and meetings, as far as possible, to be conducted through videoconferencing," the home ministry order stated.  

The guidelines further suggest that those who do not attend office on a particular day will have to make themselves available on the telephone or through other means of communication at all times from their residence.  

Recently the government proposed to formalise work from home (WFH) facility for the services sector but left the manufacturing sector outside the ambit of the concept for now.