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SINGAPORE - From next Monday (Sept 28), more people will be allowed to return to the office in the most significant easing of restrictions at workplaces since the circuit breaker was imposed in April.
This is because Singapore has managed to keep the number of Covid-19 cases in the community relatively low, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
Here are the answers to some questions you may have about the new guidelines.
1. CAN MY BOSS REQUIRE ME TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE EVEN IF MY JOB CAN BE PERFORMED FROM HOME AND I PREFER DOING SO?
Yes. However, your employer should ensure that you are working from home for at least half your working time. This should be calculated over a "reasonable period of time" not exceeding four weeks.
If you are a part-time worker, the requirement will be pro-rated. For example, if you work three days a week, you should be in the office only 1.5 days a week.
Your employer should also make sure that not more than half the people who can work from home are in the office at any one time.
2. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE FULL-TIME BECAUSE MY HOME IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR WORK. CAN I DO SO?
As long as your job can be done from home, you should be working from home at least half the time. Employers will need to demonstrate the business or operational reasons for why staff cannot work from home, despite reviewing work processes and arrangements.
3. WILL MY LEAVE DAYS COUNT TOWARDS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS I SPEND WORKING FROM HOME?
Yes. For example, if you normally work a five-day week, you are allowed to go back to the office for 2.5 days every week. If you decide to take two days of leave that week, your boss can still require you to go back to the office for 2.5 days. You will then spend the remaining half day working from home.
4. I HAVE TO ATTEND EXTERNAL MEETINGS AND EVENTS FOR WORK. ARE THESE COUNTED TOWARDS THE NUMBER OF DAYS I SPEND IN THE OFFICE?
Yes. As working from home continues to be the default, work or training done outside the office will be regarded as time spent in the workplace.
5. MY BOSS WANTS ME TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE FOR REGULAR MEETINGS. IS THIS ALLOWED?
Yes, although the Government has said that meetings should be conducted virtually as far as possible. Physical meetings between employees and suppliers or contractors should be minimised.
6. I HAVE A CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION THAT HAS WEAKENED MY IMMUNE SYSTEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE?
Employers should pay special attention to workers who are more vulnerable to the virus. Your employer should make arrangements such as allowing you to work from home and providing IT equipment if necessary, or temporarily redeploying you to another role within the company.
If there is no way to make alternative arrangements, your employer can still require you to return to the office. However, they must ensure that there is at least 1m of space between you and your colleagues.
This applies to people who have compromised immune systems, concurrent medical conditions, or who are aged 60 and above.
7. SINCE I AM GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE, DOES THAT MEAN I CAN INTERACT WITH COLLEAGUES AS USUAL?
No. You have to wear a mask at all times, unless the nature of your work or the work environment makes doing so prohibitive. You should be at least 1m apart from your colleagues in the office, including at your workstation and during meetings.
You should also not gather in groups larger than the prevailing permitted group size for social gatherings, even during meals or smoke breaks.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...ss-asks-me-to-even-if-my-job-can-be-done-from
