As a temporary solution to manage the ongoing fuel shortage-related issues, the authorities have decided to reintroduce the work-from-home concept among public sector employees engaged in non-essential services. On Tuesday (24), Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government J.J. Rathnasiri revealed that a circular was to be issued in this regard.
Working from home is not a new concept to many Sri Lankans. During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the people grew accustomed to it, as the Government and employers advocated for the concept to ensure health safety. Although people are familiar with the concept, it is necessary to take another look at its implementation, considering a number of reasons that make working from home difficult for many.
First and foremost, before implementing this plan, the authorities should take into account the fact that there are regular power cuts taking place islandwide. Even though power cut schedules are announced in advance, occasional abrupt power outages and interruptions that last longer than announced make working from home a challenge. If employees working from home are to face power cuts during working hours, the authorities need to address how this situation can be managed.
In addition, under the Government’s plan, whether or not an employee is engaged in essential services is to be the basis on which they would be required to work from home. However, the aspect that should receive more attention is whether they are practically able to perform their duties from home. Technology is one of the integral parts of this discussion, as there are many employees who are required to use computers and other such devices when at office, but lack the same facilities at home. This is another practical concern that should receive attention.
What is more, if an employee is required to use their personal resources, especially electronic devices such as phones and computers, how they are expected to cover their costs, such as money spent on electricity and data, is another concern, especially in this time of skyrocketing inflation. At the same time, even if an employee possesses such resources at home, the question remains as to whether they possess the knowledge to use them effectively, or even at all, posing yet another concern.
In this regard, the authorities should ideally carry out an assessment of what devices their employees have at home, and whether they have the relevant knowledge to use them. Before requiring employees to work from home, awareness must first be raised about the practical difficulties, and employees must be provided the necessary equipment.
Furthermore, the authorities should take steps to prevent employees from being overworked when working from home, which is an issue many employees complained about when they had to work from home during the Covid-related lockdowns. The usual working hours, or new hours agreed on by both employers and employees, should be in effect. In this context, preventing employers from unfairly engaging their employees’ time, especially after working hours, should be among the authorities’ priorities in implementing the said plan.
Ensuring that employees can work from home without working hour-related difficulties is crucial, and it can be addressed by promoting the flexible work hours concept along with the work-from-home concept. Moreover, there should be some kind of mechanism to raise awareness about managing the family-related issues that employees may face when spending more hours at home than they usually do, which may even cause stress.
If the authorities are serious about benefitting from promoting the work-from-home concept in the long run, monitoring employees’ well-being is essential. Simple steps such as introducing a hotline or a complaint mechanism to report cases of the exploitation of labour when working from home, and establishing a mechanism to monitor employees' overall physical and mental health can help Sri Lanka get the full advantage of this concept.
If implemented right, the work-from-home concept can be beneficial to both employees and employers. The Government should therefore take the above-mentioned matters into account before this plan is put into effect.Making ‘work from home’ work
26 May 2022
Making ‘work from home’ work
26 May 2022
As a temporary solution to manage the ongoing fuel shortage-related issues, the authorities have decided to reintroduce the work-from-home concept among public sector employees engaged in non-essential services. On Tuesday (24), Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government J.J. Rathnasiri revealed that a circular was to be issued in this regard.
Working from home is not a new concept to many Sri Lankans. During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the people grew accustomed to it, as the Government and employers advocated for the concept to ensure health safety. Although people are familiar with the concept, it is necessary to take another look at its implementation, considering a number of reasons that make working from home difficult for many.
First and foremost, before implementing this plan, the authorities should take into account the fact that there are regular power cuts taking place islandwide. Even though power cut schedules are announced in advance, occasional abrupt power outages and interruptions that last longer than announced make working from home a challenge. If employees working from home are to face power cuts during working hours, the authorities need to address how this situation can be managed.
In addition, under the Government’s plan, whether or not an employee is engaged in essential services is to be the basis on which they would be required to work from home. However, the aspect that should receive more attention is whether they are practically able to perform their duties from home. Technology is one of the integral parts of this discussion, as there are many employees who are required to use computers and other such devices when at office, but lack the same facilities at home. This is another practical concern that should receive attention.
What is more, if an employee is required to use their personal resources, especially electronic devices such as phones and computers, how they are expected to cover their costs, such as money spent on electricity and data, is another concern, especially in this time of skyrocketing inflation. At the same time, even if an employee possesses such resources at home, the question remains as to whether they possess the knowledge to use them effectively, or even at all, posing yet another concern.
In this regard, the authorities should ideally carry out an assessment of what devices their employees have at home, and whether they have the relevant knowledge to use them. Before requiring employees to work from home, awareness must first be raised about the practical difficulties, and employees must be provided the necessary equipment.
Furthermore, the authorities should take steps to prevent employees from being overworked when working from home, which is an issue many employees complained about when they had to work from home during the Covid-related lockdowns. The usual working hours, or new hours agreed on by both employers and employees, should be in effect. In this context, preventing employers from unfairly engaging their employees’ time, especially after working hours, should be among the authorities’ priorities in implementing the said plan.
Ensuring that employees can work from home without working hour-related difficulties is crucial, and it can be addressed by promoting the flexible work hours concept along with the work-from-home concept. Moreover, there should be some kind of mechanism to raise awareness about managing the family-related issues that employees may face when spending more hours at home than they usually do, which may even cause stress.
If the authorities are serious about benefitting from promoting the work-from-home concept in the long run, monitoring employees’ well-being is essential. Simple steps such as introducing a hotline or a complaint mechanism to report cases of the exploitation of labour when working from home, and establishing a mechanism to monitor employees' overall physical and mental health can help Sri Lanka get the full advantage of this concept.
If implemented right, the work-from-home concept can be beneficial to both employees and employers. The Government should therefore take the above-mentioned matters into account before this plan is put into effect.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!