COVID-19 and What Should You Expect During This Time as an Employee

This year marks my 7th year working as a Digital Marketing professional in the Philippines but this day too, marks one of the most frightening days not only in the Philippines but in the world’s history because of the rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Corona Virus Disease or COVID-19 which was discovered in Wuhan, China’s wet market last December 2019 was still prevalent up to this day infecting thousands of people where large cases were found in China, Korea, Italy, Philippines and other nations which reached to a total of approximately 125,000 cases as per WHO’s report.

As of March 17, 2020, 142 cases of COVID 19 are already in the Philippines as per ABS-CBN news monitoring. And as far as everyone is concerned, an Enhanced Community Quarantine was already in place for Luzon as declared by the president to further isolate the cases and stop the community transmission of the virus where: home quarantine would be implemented, no mass transport would be available, land, air and sea travel would be restricted, food supplies would be regulated and last but not the least Mayors can now implement laws that would fit to their needs in their respective places.

Since lockdown was implemented, what should employees expect from this event? For employers, it is expected of them to be compassionate by imposing work from home arrangements that would benefit their employees and would in turn help the government to mitigate or control this Pandemic. This would be the most ideal arrangement since it would certainly help the employees and the government but since we are in a lockdown, a small business would definitely suffer since it is difficult to solicit collections for projects.

For employees, if you have been given the chance to do work from home job, it is your duty to be grateful to your employer as they are trying to help you in this crisis by making sure that you are safe by giving you the option to stay away from crowd, be at home, do your job as an employee.



What Are Your Rights During This Period?

As per Article 5 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, under R.A. 11058 from GMA news article:

In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III cited Article 5 of the Labor Code of the Philippines that says, “[e]except as provided for by law or appropriate proclamation, employers in the private sector shall, in the exercise of management prerogative and in coordination with the safety and health committee, or safety officer, or any other responsible company officer, suspend work to ensure the safety and health of their employees during natural or man-made calamity.”

“If unworked - No pay, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement granting payment of wages on said day.”

Meaning, during calamities/disasters, employers have the right to suspend work to ensure the safety of its employees. While employees’ wages would be on a no-work, no-pay basis and their pay would be equivalent to their day’s work.

As per the government’s request of giving the 13th month pay, there isn’t any law that applies to it to be distributed now. It is under the company’s discretion to do so as long as it is given not later than December 24th of the year.