RMC No. 104-2022: Circularizes Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 2200209 re: policies on Flexible Work Arrangements in the government

Key points

1. Regular hours and service continuity. Government officials and employees generally work 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, except on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Agencies, even those with flexible arrangements, must assure continuous service delivery from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, including lunch break.
2. Internal guidelines. Agencies write their own guidelines following CSC-DOLE-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2020, and submit them to CSC Regional Offices. The guidelines cover tasks allowed outside the office and protocols such as health emergency plans, and the arrangements go into the Public Service Continuity Plan.
3. Overtime and performance. Employees get Compensatory Overtime Credit or Overtime Pay if they physically report and work beyond eight (8) hours a day or forty (40) hours a week, or on rest days, holidays and special non-working days. Agencies adopt performance standards under RA No. 11032, and missing assigned timelines may be ground to deny later flexiplace requests.
4. Types of arrangements. The CSC Resolution sets parameters for Flexiplace (work-from-home, satellite office, or another fixed place), Compressed Workweek, Skeleton Workforce, Work Shifting, Flexitime and combinations of these.
5. Agency support during pandemic or calamity. Agencies provide protective equipment, transport where practicable, reimbursement of laboratory and medical expenses for official travel, and health and psychosocial interventions. Reasonable WFH expenses such as electricity and internet may be defrayed only when WFH is imposed due to a severe infectious disease outbreak or calamity, subject to budgeting, accounting and auditing rules.
6. Equal treatment and ICT resources. Employees have equal opportunities for awards, promotions and training regardless of work arrangement, and medical benefits for injuries in performing official duties. Agencies provide ICT resources, and personal devices may be used if agency-owned resources are not feasible, provided they are recorded in the internal guidelines.

Who is affected

• Government officials and employees
• Government agencies