Physical attendance of govt servants restricted to 50%, biometric attendance discontinued

Physical attendance of govt servants restricted to 50%, biometric attendance discontinued

TNN | Jan 3, 2022, 09.41 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of the surge in Covid-19 cases, the government on Monday re-introduced restrictions across all Central government offices, including cutting physical attendance of employees below the level of under-secretary to 50% with the other 50% working from home.

Biometric attendance, which was resumed in November 2021 after nearly one-and-a-half years, has also been discontinued in all Central government offices with immediate effect and until further notice, as per an order issued by the department of personnel and training on Monday.

Officers of the level of under-secretary and above, however, must attend office on a regular basis.

The fresh DoPT order exempts persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees from attending office, though they shall be required to work from home.

Staggered timings – from 9 am to 5.30 pm and from 10 am to 6.30 pm -- have been introduced once again in the Central government offices to avoid over-crowding. Government employees working from home must be available at all times on the telephone and email.

Officers and staff residing in areas marked as containment zones shall be exempted from coming to offices till such zones are de-notified.

Meetings, as per DoPT order, must be conducted via video-conferencing as far as possible and personal meetings and visitors, unless absolutely necessary, avoided.

Frequent sanitisation of workplace and wearing of masks, regular washing and sanitisation of hands and maintenance of social distancing by staff across all Central government offices has also been sought.