Philippine E-Journals

Policy Analysis on the Alternative Work Arrangements in Government Offices during Pandemic

MA ODESSA PACAUL | JEAN JAVIER | REGINO BERNAL | JAYSON GASPAR

 

Abstract:

The COVID 19 pandemic brought the Alternative Work Arrangement (AWA) into the spotlight as employees from the government offices will have to adapt to the new normal as they deal with the current health and economic environment and achieve a sustainable future. Previous research outputs before the pandemic showed an increased demand for flexible work arrangements and a better work-life balance might have contributed to the growth in alternative work arrangements. This research sought to analyze the policy on Alternative Work Arrangements (AWA) in government offices utilizing the guidelines set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in response to the pandemic. Using a descriptive quantitative method, a survey questionnaire was administered to the respondents composed of human resource officers representing government offices in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines in five categories such as: local government units, police stations, fire stations, rural health units and public schools. Results show that government agencies adhered to the guidelines in the establishment of their own Alternative Work Arrangement program to ensure that daily work operations continue during the pandemic. The offices also established a monitoring scheme to track reports of those who availed the work alternative scheme. The skeletal workforce arrangement is the most preferred scheme. The findings have implications for organizations who want to revisit work-from-home policies. The study concludes with the analysis of research data and ideas on further studies on AWA