Patna: The Bihar government has introduced a comprehensive set of workplace guidelines for employees posted at the Secretariat, making formal dress, punctual attendance and adherence to leave procedures mandatory across departments.
The new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), lay down detailed responsibilities for officials across multiple service cadres while also prescribing stricter standards of workplace discipline.
The directions were issued through a letter by B. Rajender, Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration Department.
SOP Issued After Cadre Restructuring
According to the department, the guidelines have been issued following the recent restructuring and redesignation of several Secretariat service cadres.
The SOP defines the duties, responsibilities and working procedures for employees ranging from Stenographers, Secretariat Assistants and Senior Secretariat Assistants to Assistant Section Officers and Section Officers.
In addition to role-specific responsibilities, the document prescribes common standards of conduct applicable to all officers and employees working in government departments and offices.
Formal Dress Mandatory
Among the most notable changes is the introduction of a stricter dress code.
The government has directed that officers and employees must report to work in neat, clean and appropriate formal attire. Wearing jeans, T-shirts or other casual clothing to the office has been expressly prohibited.
Employees have also been instructed to wear their official identity cards throughout office hours.
Biometric Attendance To Be Strictly Enforced
The SOP also places renewed emphasis on punctuality.
All government employees have been directed to follow prescribed office timings. Attendance records generated through the biometric attendance system will form the basis for monitoring punctuality and workplace discipline.
According to the guidelines, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated after seeking an explanation from employees who repeatedly report late, leave the office before the scheduled closing time or remain absent without authorisation.
Leave Rules Tightened
The government has also clarified procedures for seeking leave or permission to arrive late or leave early.
Employees facing unavoidable circumstances must obtain prior approval from the competent authority before reporting late or leaving office early. In exceptional situations, such permission may be sought through telephone or WhatsApp.
The SOP further states that employees should ordinarily proceed on leave only after it has been formally sanctioned.
However, in emergency situations, employees may leave after informing the competent authority of the circumstances through telephone or WhatsApp, with the expectation that the leave process will subsequently be regularised.
