CSC approves flexible work arrangement for govt employees
The Civil Service Commission disclosed that flexible work arrangements in the public sector may now be adopted starting June 15.
“It’s already out…[but] this depends on the head of the agency provided that the core workings hours will have a substantial number of employees. We only provide the options,” Civil Service Commissioner Aileen Lizada said.
Per CSC Resolution No. 2200209 — which takes effect fifteen days after its publication or on June 15 — flexible work arrangements include:
- Flexiplace, where officials and employees may be authorized to render services away from their office;
- Compressed work week, where the 40-hour work week is compressed into “four days or less” instead of five;
- Skeleton workforce, where minimum personnel will be required to report to the office “when full staffing is not possible”;
- Work shifting for agencies required by law to operate 24/7 or agencies required to observe workplace health and safety protocols;
- Flexitime, where working hours “shall start not earlier than 7:00 a.m. and end not later than 7:00 p.m.” provided they complete the required 40-hour week
- Weekend work “provided that [these] are regular workdays and not overtime” while employees “may choose compensatory days off during weekdays”
- Combination of flexible work arrangements that may be adopted
The resolution also state the condition of a “continuous delivery of service from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.”
The CSC said that the adoption of the guidelines “may be allowed on a regular or recurring basis, situational, or for medical reasons.”
The resolution “seeks to institutionalize flexible work arrangements as part of the nationwide effort to transition from a state of public health emergency to the new normal” and serve as “a preventive measure to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of government officials and employees” while ensuring continuous operations.
“With this policy in place, the CSC aims to improve work-life balance, encourage the adoption of information and communications technology for remote work, and provide reasonable work arrangements for vulnerable employees such as senior citizens, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, or those recovering from sickness/injuries and issues of mobility,” the CSC also said in a press release.
“The flexible work arrangement guidelines…will certainly change the landscape of work in the country. The CSC is confident that greater flexibility will lead to increased productivity as the work environment becomes more responsive to employees’ unique individual needs.”
The government agencies are also directed to ensure that support mechanisms including personal protective equipment for frontline service providers and transportation facilities for physically reporting employees, and the reimbursement of medical expenses are ready.
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