Half-day absences during work suspension clarified

It’s wet season once again. Torrential rains and unfavorable weather brought about by typhoons and tropical depressions are the inevitable trademarks of the coming days. Expectedly, this rainy period also spell the suspension of either work or classes.

Thus, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) clarified anew that whenever suspension of work is declared in government offices, employees who failed to report for work would not be considered absent for the whole day.

"Employees who are absent on a regular day for which suspension of work is announced will only be deducted leave credits equivalent to the time when official working hours start up to the time the work suspension has been declared," CSC chairwoman Karina Constantino-David said.

The clarification came in the face of perennial queries from government employees following the suspension of work for half-day last May 27 due to storm "Chedeng."

Work in government offices was also suspended for the whole day of May 28. Previously, half-day absences during regular working days when suspension of work was declared, were considered whole-day absences.

David cited Section 32 of the Omnibus Rules on Leave which provides that "where an official or an employee fails to report for work on a regular day for which suspension of work is declared after the start of regular working hours, he shall not be considered absent for the whole day."

The provision further states: "Instead, he shall only be deducted leave credits or the amount corresponding to the time when official working hours start up to the time the suspension of work is announced."

Meanwhile, David also clarified that tardiness and undertime in government are deducted from vacation leave credits and not from sick leave credits unless the undertime is for health reasons and supported by medical certificate and application for leave.