Demapan, in an interview yesterday, said it will still be the same 16-hour cut that the government will impose on every pay period.
He explained that in the last fiscal year, the whole eight-hour cut fell on austerity Friday while two hours were cut each day from Monday to Thursday.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on Friday issued a directive instructing executive branch officials that the 16 austerity hours are to be observed every Friday.
This means that government working hours from Monday to Thursday will go back to the original 7:30 a.m., to 4:30 p.m., but offices will be closed on Fridays.
A government employee who requested anonymity said the new austerity schedule will allow them to seek part-time work in the private sector.
Another employee said Austerity Fridays will help the government save power.
In his directive, Fitial said that “what is on the time card, unless noted otherwise, is the time worked.”
He said it has come to his attention that some employees time in before the official hours.
“I understand that some may say that the extra time is being volunteered, but this, too, is not allowable as the commonwealth is prohibited by law from accepting voluntary unpaid services from employees,” he said.
Government employees “are prohibited from timing in or out outside the official office hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,” Fitial said.
He added, “If you come early for work or from lunch, relax and visit friends until it is time to time in.”
According to the governor, timekeeping must be strictly enforced, and extra time worked with authorization or unauthorized absence must be viewed as a disciplinary problem.
“Absence without authority whether through tardiness, excess sickness or for other reasons will be considered leave without pay,” Fitial said.
