Punjab government employees had an early start at work on 2nd May 2023 with new office timings coming into force. For the next two-and-a-half months, the office timings in Punjab will be 7.30 am to 2 pm instead of the usual 9 am to 5 pm. The new work hours will remain in force till 15th July 2023. The new timetable has done away with the regular 30-minute lunch break. Still, employees will work an hour less than before. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who along with his staff arrived at his office building in Chandigarh at 7.28 am, went straight to his office before addressing the media. He said that the new work hours will ensure that maximum sunlight is utilized in government offices. He said that people will be able to avoid the scorching sun with these timings. Mann told reporters at a press conference, "Before implementing this decision, we spoke to the employees and the people and they agreed to the decision on the changed timings. The move will help save power.” 

Elaborating upon the benefits of the new office timing, the Chief Minister said when the government offices close at 2 pm, all electronic devices and electrical appliances on the premises are shut, it will mean lower consumption by about 350 units per day, resulting in savings of about Rs 16-17 crore per month on power bills. "Thus, a total of Rs 40-42 crore will be saved till 15th July.” According to the power department, peak consumption hours are from 1.30 pm to 4 pm, and the new timings will help ease the load during those hours, Mann added. Although the move was seen by many employees as an opportunity to spend more time with their families, outstation employees expressed concern over the new timetable. An employee said it will be tough, especially for women outstation employees, who will have to get up very early to complete household chores, send children to school and then head to their offices. Government employees, from IAS, IPS officers to superintendents and peons, were seen heading to their respective offices at many places in Punjab before the deadline of 7:30 am. Ministers too adhered to the new timeline as they reached their offices before time.

However, some employees complained that they found it difficult to reach the office on time. One said that after dropping children at the school bus stop, they had to rush to the office leaving the children alone. 

While most of the officials were seated at their desks by 7.30 am, as it was the first day after the changed schedule, there was not much rush of people who usually visit the offices, in the morning hours. On 2nd May, the visitors started to come in around the normal time after 10.30-11 am. Officials maintained that the new routine may take a few days to get used to and the general public will start visiting the offices in morning hours. CM Mann said three to four states have also asked him to share the results and benefits of this change so that they can also think about implementing such an experiment.

Tags

• Punjab
• government
• office
• working
• hours
• luncht

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