Govt extends work from home for 50% staff till February 15

According to a Personnel Ministry order, the Centre extended work from home arrangements for 50% of its employees below the level of Under Secretary until February 15.

Employees with disabilities and pregnant women would continue to be excused from going to work.

Because of the increase in Covid cases, the Personnel Ministry issued an order on January 3 allowing 50% of employees below the level of Under Secretary to work from home until January 31. Read: Govt reintroduces 50% attendance cap for staff below under secretary level

Central government officers and staffers will have to follow staggered timing — 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. — to avoid overcrowding in offices, according to an order issued on Monday extending the arrangements until February 15.

"Physical attendance of government employees below the level of Under Secretary will be limited to 50% of the total workforce, with the remaining 50% working from home. All of the departments involved can create a roster in this manner "It had stated so.

According to the order, all officers at the level of Under Secretary and above must report to work on a regular basis.

The suspension of biometric attendance for employees has been extended by the Personnel Ministry until February 15. As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Covid, it had earlier this month suspended the marking of biometric attendance for all of its employees until January 31.

View the order copy reproduced here