SC rules: Dismissal of government worker for habitual tardiness

A government worker who incurs habitual tardiness, after every warning or suspension, should be kicked out of service immediately, according to a recent ruling of the Supreme Court.

The SC en banc, presided by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, ordered the dismissal of court stenographer Nora B. Ang, of the Office of the Clerk of Court, because of her persistent tardiness despite several warnings and suspensions imposed on her in the past.

The SC "dismissed Ang from service for her fifth offense of habitual tardiness, with forfeiture of retirement benefits except accrued leave credits, and with prejudice to reemployment in any branch...of government."

The records showed that the 61-year old Ang committed tardiness 10 times in February and 11 times in April 2005, and in between these infractions she had been reprimanded, suspended and given final warning.

The SC cited that Ang was reprimanded on August 8, 2000 for her first commission of habitual tardiness in 1999.

On April 17, 2001, she was meted with a 10-day suspension for her second offense in the first semester of 2000.

On November 27, 2002, she was given a 3-month suspension and a final warning for her third offense in the second semester of 2000.

Then on October 23, 2001, Ang was penalize with a 6-month suspension and, again, a final warning, for her fourth offense in the first semester of 2001.

Last year, Ang incurred another series of tardiness-her fifth offense-prompting the SC to rule that she would be dismissed immediately.

Ang, in her defense, cited medical reasons for her tardiness, pleaded the SC for consideration, and asked the court that she would use the early retirement option.

The SC said that, in its past resolutions, it recognized humanitarian reasons and extended compassion in the imposition of the penalty of dismissal to Ang.

But for her fifth offense, the SC said that Ang's option for retirement should not be linked to the outcome of her case for habitual tardiness. Even then, Ang has failed until now to submit her application for retirement.

The SC said that is bad precedent to allow an early retirement for those who merely wanted to avoid getting penalized by the court.

Under the rules of the Civil Service Commission, any employee commits habitual tardiness if he or she incurs tardiness-regardless of the number of minutes-10 times in a month for at least two consecutive months in a year. - Rene U. Borromeo