The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said government workers under quarantine or being treated for COVID-19 are given excused absences.
“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 updated the interim guidelines on the use of leave credits for absences due to COVID-19 quarantine and/or treatment.
According to CSC, there is a need to consider the situation of government workers who are also exposed to COVID-19 as they serve the public daily.
The agency added those infected could also work from home, depending on the nature of their work and compliance to CSC’s guidelines on alternative work arrangements.
CSC excused absence is the period when a government worker is not required to report for work due to “required quarantine period, isolation, and/or treatment, and/or announcement of work suspension,” but is entitled to pay.
COVID positive gov’t workers excused from absences – CSC
Meanwhile, the isolation period refers is 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.
However, absences incurred from the 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.
CSC said the same policy would apply if the government worker acquired COVID-19 after attending a personal activity.
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