Gov’t workers absent for work due to COVID-19 considered excused —CSC

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Wednesday said the absence from work of government employees under quarantine, isolation or treatment for COVID-19 are considered excused.

“Absence from work for every instance of the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment for government workers who are infected or identified as close contacts of a suspect, probable, and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19 while in the performance of their official functions (onsite or WFH arrangement) shall be considered as excused absence,” the CSC said in a resolution.

CSC Resolution No. 2101122 amended the interim guidelines on the use of leave credits for absences due to COVID-19 quarantine and/or treatment.

The CSC noted that there is a need to consider the predicament of government workers, aside from public healthcare workers, who are repeatedly exposed to COVID-19 in performing their official duties due to face-to-face interaction with clients and co-workers, or due to community transmission.

The CSC said they may be required to adopt a work-from-home arrangement, adding that it may depend on the nature of their work in pursuant to the agency's guidelines on alternative work arrangements. 

According to the commission, excused absence refers to the period when a government worker is not mandated to report for work due to “required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment, and/or announcement of work suspension,” but is entitled to pay.

The CSC explained that the required quarantine period refers to the prevailing number of days required for a person to undergo quarantine, or separation and restriction of movement while waiting for swab tests results or if the person will become sick.

Meanwhile, the isolation period refers to the separation of a person who is sick with a contagious disease for purposes of treatment and monitoring.

“Absences incurred from undergoing the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment after official travel from countries with or without localized COVID-19 transmissions or from local areas under community quarantine are considered excused absences,” the CSC said.

“For personal travel, only the required quarantine period may be excused, while the isolation and/or treatment period shall be charged against leave credits,” it added.

Absences incurred from undergoing the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment after personal international travel without approved travel authority before or after the declaration of a state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 shall be charged against leave credits.

The CSC also noted that absences incurred from undergoing the required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment due to personal activities in violation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging and Infectious Diseases’ protocols, shall also be charged against leave credits.

It added that employees returning to work must submit documents including certification of completion of quarantine and medical certificate clearing them to report back to work, among others.—LDF, GMA News