Sarkari babus don't be late to office or you'll lose attendance; Centre cracks whip on latecomers

The Centre's department of personnel and training (DoPT) has mandated that all employees, including senior officers, must mark their attendance using the biometric attendance system by 9:15 AM, ToI reported. This decision, aimed at cracking down on latecomers, allows a maximum delay of 15 minutes and comes with the warning that half-day casual leave will be deducted for those arriving late. The change comes after several employees had stopped using the biometric system following the Covid-19 outbreak four years ago.

A circular from the DoPT outlines the need for advance notice and the application of casual leave if an employee is unable to attend work on a particular day. Junior-level employees, particularly those in public-facing roles, have been cited for their tendencies to arrive late and leave early, inconveniencing the public. Central government offices generally operate from 9 AM to 5:30 PM.

Senior officers, however, have voiced concerns, stating they do not have fixed office hours and usually leave after 7 PM. "No fixed hours, we take work home too," they argue, noting that post-Covid, they often work from home, including on holidays and weekends. This effort to enforce office timings, initially introduced by the Modi government in 2014, faced resistance from employees who cited long commutes as a challenge.

The use of Aadhaar-enabled biometric attendance systems was closely monitored to ensure timely arrivals until the Covid-19 pandemic led to the suspension of this mechanism. Several senior officers had even installed biometric devices on their desks to avoid queues. Despite instructions issued last year for employees to resume biometric attendance—the system was reinstated in February 2022—many workers had yet to comply.

"Habitual late coming and early leaving of office should be viewed seriously and discouraged. Action against the same may be initiated," said the DoPT directive. The directive underscores the need for closer supervision of attendance and punctuality by officers within their sections.

In some departments where IT-enabled faceless mechanisms have been implemented, employees are known to skip office or make only brief appearances. The recent directive aims to instill greater discipline among employees, albeit potentially annoying those accustomed to arriving at 10 AM or later.

(with ToI inputs)