Government employees work from home in Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: AP government instructed half of its employees to work from home. This decision was taken in the wake of the spread of pandemic coronavirus in the State as well as country.

Welcoming the move, the employees observed that this was the first time in the history of our State that the government allowed employees to work from home, like a corporate company, observed senior officials.

All the Departments of the Secretariat, Heads of the Department, District Offices were instructed to ensure that 50 percent of employees are required to attend office every day and remaining 50 percent employees should be instructed to work from home and they are also advised to draft a weekly roster of duty. These new guidelines will be in force till April 4.

While issuing a GO RT No 607, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney stated that, all the Section Officers, Asst. Section Officers and below cadre will be grouped as two (approximately 50 percent) and permitted to attend office on alternate weeks. The remaining officers should attend office regularly. In respect of Head of the Departments, District Offices and below Offices, all Non-gazetted officers will be grouped as two (approximately 50 percent) and permitted to attend office on alternate weeks. All gazetted officers should attend the office regularly.

The Officials appointed as Advisors, Chairpersons & consultants after retirement who are of the age of 60 years and above are allowed to work from home with the permission of Heads of the Department, without adversely affecting their consultancy fee or honorarium.

The Officials who wish to self-quarantine, as a preventive measure and crossed 50 years of age and have underlying conditions including diabetes, respiratory problems, renal diseases and other life-threatening illness for a period up to April 4, 2020 to grant committed leave without production of medical certificate by the competent authority.

The contractual and outsourced staff may also be allowed to attend office on s rotational basis as has been allowed in the case of regular employees. The group who are attending office may also be grouped as three and staggered their timings to minimise the large gathering at a time.

However, all the staff members who are permitted to work from home should be available on telephone and electronic means of communication and attend the duties through e-office.

These instructions are not applicable to Essential Service Employees.

Grievance petitions will not be allowed in Government Offices.

These orders are also applicable to all Public Sector undertakings, Societies, autonomous institutions and others. Officials are directed to restrict visitors in offices.