Public servants told: No Pokemon Go on gov’t time

Don’t go hunting for Pokemons during office hours, government employees were warned yesterday.

Under threat of possible administrative penalties, the Civil Service Commission ( CSC) warned government workers yesterday against playing the popular real-time virtual reality game Pokemon Go during office hours.

“Playing Pokemon Go during office hours is not allowed. We are reminding them that they should not be playing, not just Pokemon Go, but all other game applications,” CSC chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala told The STAR.

Bala said the warning also serves as a reminder to all elected officials including senators, congressmen and mayors who may not be covered by the rules but are nevertheless public servants.

“Government official time is paid for by the public and it should be devoted only to the provision of continuous and

quality public service,” the CSC said in an announcement posted on its official website.

“The CSC may draft a letter to the game developer to suggest the removal of Pokemons, PokeStops and PokeGyms from government offices,” the advisory added.

Civil servants are being cautioned that playing the game and any other game application on their mobile phones while at work could be considered as loafing.

Under the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, loafing is a less serious offense similar to dishonesty, oppression, disgraceful and immoral conduct, absenteeism and tardiness.

Under the rules, such acts are punishable by six months to a year of suspension on the first offense and dismissal from service on second offense.

“It’s like you’re having lunch during office hours. You are stealing the official time for work,” she explained, noting that the CSC is not stopping government workers from playing the game during their lunch break, after office hours or at home.

Bala said loafing is like not being in the office. “If you’re not in the office and you are somewhere else, that’s loafing,” she said.