New Strict Attendance Rules for Government Employees in Odisha, Leave will be marked if Late for Office

The Odisha Government has decided to introduce a new method of marking attendance for employees. The Government is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI)-based cameras and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled identity cards to record attendance data. The Government wants to improve workplace discipline and promote punctuality among state government employees. The Government has released an important directive regarding this.

Government Order Regarding Attendance

It is expected that all employees of the State Government shall reach their office within the prescribed time. This is applicable to all employees, from the junior-most to the highest Government functionary.

In order to minimize late coming to office, all Departments are requested to install necessary equipment like biometric attendance system, where-ever not installed already. Wherever such systems have been installed, Departments must ensure it is functional. The biometric data should be linked to the Biometric Attendance System Portal developed by NIC and must be analyzed by a designated officer of the Department on a fortnightly basis. Some basic instructions are outlined below to ensure punctuality in office.

1. Every employee is expected to record his/her ‘Office In’ as well as ‘Office Out’ time in the Biometric Attendance Recording Device. Non-recording of ‘Office Out’ time may be treated as absence from duty for the day.
2. Employees are expected to come to Office by the prescribed time. In Offices, where Employees are required to attend on Roster basis, the Head of Office shall issue Office Order to that effect and the time mentioned therein for reporting shall be treated as the prescribed time. Instructions contained herein shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of the said employees.
3. Delay up to a maximum span of 30 minutes, on any day with a cumulative of three days in a calendar month may be condoned by the Head of the Office or the Officer duly authorized for the purpose, thereafter, for every three days of late attendance by any employee, the employee will be liable for deduction of one day’s Casual Leave from their Leave Account.
4. Considering the fact that, many employees have to work for prolonged and late hours in the evening and sometimes even on Public Holidays in the interest of office work, in such cases, the employees will be eligible for non-imposition of such penalties for late attendance, if any, with due approval of the appropriate Authority as mentioned supra.
5. In accordance with Government instructions, every employee is expected to attend Office at least for 7.30 hours [Except during days of business notified to be conducted during Morning Hours] in each working day.
6. No penalty shall be imposed for Non recording of Office In/Office Out time for any genuine reasons such as on official tour, official work outside of the office premise etc. on orders by Competent Authority.
7. Staff deployed in the Secretariat of Hon’ble Governor, Offices of the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Hon’ble Ministers will be exempted from these instructions.

Government is further considering the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI based cameras) and RFID based Identity Cards for capturing attendance data of all employees. To begin this, it is planned to start the same on a Pilot basis in the Lok Seva Bhavan and Kharavel Bhavan. Later, the system shall be expanded to all Government Offices across the State.