DOLE: Absences due to quarantine should not reflect on employees' performance

An employee may refuse to report for work if still required to do so amid the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday.

Based on the information shared by GMA News reporter Cedric Castillo on his Twitter account, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said these absences shall not reflect on the employees' performance assessment.

Further, these shall not be automatically deducted from the workers' leave credits.

"Hindi, bawal iyon. Nasa empleyado ang pasya kung gagamitin ang leave credits niya," Bello was quoted as saying.

BASAHIN: ilang tanong at sagot tungkol sa leave credits at work-from-home arrangement base sa pakikipag-usap ng @gmanews kay DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III. pic.twitter.com/OihNTXL63L

— Cedric Castillo (@cedric_castillo) March 18, 2020

If the employee refuses to use his or her leave credits, the no work, no pay shall apply regardless if he or she is regular or contractual.

Bello reiterated the government’s appeal to companies to give salary to their employees despite the absences.

"Pero nananawagan ang pamahalaan sa malalaking kumpanya sa panahong ito na paswelduhin pa rin ang mga empleyado kahit hindi pumapasok due to extraordinary times. Some big companies are already doing this," he said.

Work from home arrangements should be discussed and agreed upon by both the employers and employees, he added.

Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.

Several establishments, except those offering medical and other essential services, were ordered to be temporarily closed. Mass transportation systems have also been shut down, making it challenging for workers exempted from the quarantine to conveniently reach their offices.—AOL, GMA News