COVID-19: AAI overhauls leave policy for employees; WFH & SCLs are new norms

• An internal office memo accessed by PSU Watch shows that the state-run airport operator has made more provisions for WFH (Work from Home) and special casual leaves

• If an employee has been tested positive for COVID-19, they will be able to avail 15 days SCL for seeking treatment and recovery

New Delhi: State-run AAI (Airports Authority of India) has overhauled its leave policy for employees, keeping in view the risks posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. An internal office memo accessed by PSU Watch shows that the state-run airport operator has made provisions for WFH (Work from Home) and special casual leaves, wherever necessary, for employees who may either be diagnosed with COVID-19 or may have come in contact with someone who has been found to be infected.

"Due to widespread outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the country, it is anticipated that several situations may emerge in near future where an employee may have to self-isolate or quarantine himself/herself as per guidelines issued by Government of India/State Governments/UT from time to time OR may have to undergo treatment for COVID-19 for himself/ herself," the notification said.

AAI employees to get 15 days of SCL if found to be COVID-19 positive

"If an employee has been tested positive for COVID-19 and has no HPL (Half Pay Leave) in their credit, then 15 days SCL for the purpose of treatment and recovery due to COVID-19 will be allowed," said the document. It added that for employees, who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus, 14 days of SCL will be available in order to enable them to self-quarantine in case they are in areas where WFH may not be possible, the new leave policy said.

A suspect case for COVID-19, on the other hand, will be on SCL from the date of test for COVID-19 till the test report comes, only if WFH is not possible.

COVID-special commuted leave policy

A maximum of five days of commuted leave will be available to employees who are suffering from any underlying conditions of cough/cold/ fever and want to self-quarantine/isolate as a preventive measure, without a medical certificate, the notification said. "Employees having underlying conditions such as diabetes, respiratory problems, renal disease and other life-threatening illness (proof of such disease/past treatment will have to be submitted) will be allowed to avail commuted leave without production of medical certificate upto a maximum of 14 days," it added.

WFH for contacts of COVID-19 cases, residents of containment zone

As has been the case at all organisations and their workforce who have returned to work after the easing of the lockdown — work from home has become the new normal. At AAI too, 14 days of WFH will be available to close contacts of an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 in order to allow them to self-quarantine. It will also be available if an employee resides in a containment zone until the time the sealing is denotified, the document said. "If any family member residing with an employee tests positive for COVID-19 or is a suspect case for COVID-19, in such cases, the concerned employee will be on WFH till the report of the family member comes negative, as a preventive measure to contain the spread of COVID-19," it added.

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