Centre orders work from home for B and C employees, staggered timings for others

New Delhi: To control the spread of coronavirus, Centre on Thursday ordered all departments and state-run firms to get 50 percent of its middle and junior-rank officials to work from home till April 4.

While half of the middle and lower-level employees of the central government will be working from home, the timing for those attending offices will be staggered.

According to the order issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions:

(i) Heads of Department (HoDs) may ensure that 50 per cent of Group B and C employees are required to attend office every day, and the remaining 50 per cent staff should be instructed to work from home.

All HoDs are advised to draft a weekly roster of duty for Group B and C staff and ask them to attend



office on alternate weeks. While deciding the roster for ‘the first week, HoDs are advised to include officials who are residing in close proximity to their office or use their own transport to travel to the offices.

(ii) Further, the working hours for all employees who attend office on a particular day should be staggered. It is suggested that three groups of employees may be formed and asked to attend office as per the following timings:-

(a) 9 AM to 5.30 PM

(b) 9.30 AM to 6 PM

(c) 10 AM to 6.30 PM

(iii) The officials who are working from home on a particular day as per the roster drawn up should be available on telephone and electronic means of communication at all times. They should attend office, if called for any exigency of work.