Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered a four-day work week for Negros Occidental provincial government employees effective immediately, amid the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Lacson, in a memorandum issued on Monday, April 12, said office hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and Friday will be a work from home day.
Capitol-based offices will be closed on Friday, Lacson said.
Heads of departments and offices will be responsible to assign work to all employees under them during the work from home schedule, the governor said.
Provincial Health Office and hospital employees, and those whose services are required on a daily basis shall make work arrangements so everybody will enjoy a four-day work schedule, Lacson said.
“This is to give a breather to all health workers who need a ‘time-out’ from the rigors of their jobs during the pandemic,” Lacson said.
The new work schedule is being adopted in the interest and exigency of the service and the protection of the provincial government employees, Lacson said.
Government employees are discouraged from attending mass gatherings such as weddings, baptisms, funeral services and other similar activities, Lacson said.*