Legal basis for the circular
- CSC Memorandum Circular No. 21 adopts working-hours policies pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 91-677 dated June 4, 1991.
- CSC Memorandum Circular No. 21 establishes uniform observance of the government schedule of working hours to serve public convenience.
Forty-hour work week requirements
- All government officials and employees must render eight (8) working hours a day for five (5) working days a week, totaling forty (40) hours a week, exclusive of time for lunch.
- The normal working hours of government officials and employees are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- In the exigency of the service, or when necessary due to the nature of the work of a particular agency, the Civil Service Commission allows rescheduling or shifting of a particular agency’s work schedule upon representations by the concerned Department heads.
- Rescheduling or shifting may cover a number of working days less than the required five (5) days, provided officials and employees render a total of forty (40) hours a week.
- The public must be assured of core working hours of eight in the morning (8 a.m.) to five in the afternoon (5 p.m.) continuously for the duration of the entire work week.
Flexible working hours rule
- Working hours must not be reduced when officials and employees elect to adopt flexi-time in reporting for work.
- Adoption of flexi-time must strictly comply with CSC MC No. 14, s. 1989 (Adoption of Flexible Working Hours in the Government Service).
Attendance recording and record custody
- All officers and employees must record daily attendance on the proper form or, whenever possible, have attendance registered on the bundy clock.
- Any other means of recording attendance may be allowed if the employee’s name and signature, the time of actual arrival, and the time of actual departure are indicated, subject to verification.
- Field personnel outside the office proper must record attendance using the same attendance recording requirements.
- Personnel serving on the water or on a vessel must likewise record attendance, based on their usual place of work.
- The Record of Attendance must be kept in a conspicuous place and kept in the custody of a responsible officer who monitors arrival and departure.
Attendance of officials not required to use bundy clock
- Officials, including presidential appointees, who are not required to use the bundy clock must record attendance in the manner prescribed by the Office.
- The absences of officials not required to use the bundy clock must be covered with the requisite leave of absence.
Overtime services and limits
- When the interest of public service requires it, the head of the agency concerned may extend the daily hours of work.
- Any extension of daily hours must be fixed according to the nature of the work.
- Officials and employees may be requested to render overtime work.
- Overtime work is paid except when rendered in the exigency of the service or when the service requires urgent work, subject to existing regulations.
- Off-setting tardiness or absences by working the equivalent number of minutes or hours beyond regular or approved working hours is not allowed.
Undertime sanctions and reference rule
- Any employee who incurs undertime is subject to administrative sanctions.
- Undertime triggering sanctions occurs if the employee incurs undertime regardless of the number of minutes or hours:
- ten (10) times a month in a semester, or
- at least two (2) consecutive months during the year.
- The applicable sanctions are those prescribed under CSC MC No. 04, s. 1991 (Policy on Absenteeism and Tardiness).