Govt orders work from home for 50% staff; shifts to be staggered

NEWDELHI: The Centre on Thursday directed all its departments and state-run firms to get 50% of their middle and junior-rank officials to work from home and introduced staggered timings for the rest until April 4.

The instruction, designed to minimise pressure on public transport and reduce chances of t he c oronavirus i nf e c t i on spreading within the bureaucracy, will also apply for other bodies funded by the Centre.

The work from home will be applicable for Group B and C employees, who account for an overwhelming majority of the government employees.

In a notification, the Centre directed heads of departments to split the employees 50-50, with one section working from home. The notification, signed by additional secretary Sujata Chaturvedi, has been marked to all ministries and departments of the government, the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Secretariat, PSO to the secretary personnel and the senior technical director, department of personnel and training (DOPT).

“The situation is troubling,” a DOPT official said. “It is particularly bad in Maharashtra, even the PM is addressing the nation about coronavirus. The DOPT’S decision has been t aken t o ensure social distancing as recommended by the Health Ministry.”

The official added that Group A of f i cers had not yet been included as their numbers are fewer. “Most of them have their own cabins, unlike the Group B and C officers who often share cabins. The need for social distancing is greater for the latter.”

The employees are going to work in three shifts--from 9 am to 5:30 pm, 9:30 am to 6 pm and 10 am to 6:30 pm.

The situation is troubling...the DOPT’S decision has been taken to ensure social distancing as recommended by the Health Ministry.

DOPT OFFICIAL