Delhi's 50% work-from-home conundrum

When Delhi’s air quality slips into the danger zone, emergency measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) kick in with sweeping intent. This week, one such measure-- a mandatory 50% work-from-home (WFH) rule, promised immediate relief: fewer cars on the road, lighter traffic, and lower emissions. But on the ground, the directive has exposed a deeper conflict between environmental urgency and how Delhi’s offices actually function.The Delhi government announced on Wednesday that the 50% WFH rule would be enforced across both government and private offices in the National Capital Territory from December 18, as part of GRAP-III curbs. On paper, the idea is simple: keep half the workforce at home so fewer vehicles choke already polluted streets. In practice, the order has landed in a city where authority is fragmented, workplaces are unevenly organised, and many jobs simply cannot move online.A rule many didn’t know existedFor a measure that is supposed to apply citywide, awareness itself has been patchy. Several employees say they learned about the WFH directive not from their offices, but from social media — and even then, only partially.During the previous spell of GRAP-III restrictions last month, scepticism and confusion spilled onto X. One user wrote: “Not all offices, only those which come under GNCTD. There are numerous offices under the Centre, which don't fall under GNCTD's purview.” Another asked bluntly: “Ye kaise decide hoga ki kaun se 50% ko bhagwan bharose chhodna hai (how will it be decided which 50% is left at the mercy of God)?”Those questions remain largely unanswered.Inside Delhi government offices themselves, clarity has been slow to arrive. An official working at the Delhi Secretariat said, “It hasn't been implemented yet, and there is no information on when it will be. But there are chances it may begin by Thursday.” Until formal instructions arrive, many departments continue to function as usual.Private sector: flexibility for some, impossibility for othersOutside government offices, responses vary sharply depending on the nature and size of the organisation.In some government-linked institutions, the order has been interpreted selectively. A government bank official said marketing staff had been advised to work from home, but employees handling core banking operations were still required to report to office — an informal split between “essential” and “non-essential” work that the order itself does not clearly define.Large multinational firms appear better placed to adapt. Tushar, who works for a London-based company with a Delhi office, said flexibility was already part of their work culture. “Usually, our office is quite flexible. Even without an order, if we request, we can work from home. But no official communication has come to us regarding WFH under this directive.”For smaller firms, however, the mandate collides head-on with staffing realities and trust deficits. Rohit, who runs a small advertising firm, was blunt: “We do not have the manpower to allow work from home. We can't guarantee that staff will be diligent without supervision.”Professional services firms echo similar concerns. Salil Bhatia, director of a financial consultancy, said, “We haven't implemented it and have no plan to do so. As a chartered accountant firm, auditing requires client visits, and our staff lacks the resources at home to work efficiently. Moreover, there's no one to monitor or answer their queries remotely.”Some offices have opted for symbolic compliance instead — asking staff to avoid private vehicles or mandating masks, without reducing attendance. But such measures do little to address the core aim of the WFH order: cutting down vehicular movement.A mandate full of grey zonesEven among companies willing to comply, the order raises practical questions. Who qualifies for WFH? What counts as “essential” work? Do contractual workers or security staff fall under the 50% cap?The order states that private offices within the NCT of Delhi are expected to follow the 50% rule, with staggered working hours and minimal movement. Hospitals, utilities, transport, enforcement and disaster services are explicitly exempt. Beyond that, the phrase “other essential services” leaves wide room for interpretation.As a result, some firms are improvising. An employee at a B2B company said teams were divided based on roles: “We have done 60-40 — while 60%, like our sales team, are out in the field, 40% who handle desk jobs are working from home after GRAP orders.” Others, especially those already operating hybrid or remote models, have made minor adjustments rather than structural changes.Enforcement without an enforcer?The biggest question hanging over the directive is enforcement. Under GRAP-III, district magistrates and local bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance. An official from one DM’s office said, “After the order, we will now issue directions to the eligible parties, but yes, the onus is also on the offices themselves.”Legally, the penalties are severe. Violations under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, can attract punishment under sections 15 and 16 — including fines of up to ₹1 lakh, an additional ₹5,000 per day for continuing offences, or imprisonment of up to seven years. Yet it remains unclear who will identify violations, issue notices, or levy penalties, especially across thousands of private offices.Whether inspections will be periodic or complaint-driven is still uncertain. Many employees say they expect confusion to persist for days before any uniform implementation emerges — if it does at all.The pollution logic — and its limitsEnvironmental experts say the intent behind the order is sound, even if execution is messy. Vivek Chattopadhyay, principal programme manager for clean air and sustainable mobility at the Centre for Science and Environment, explained, “The purpose of this move is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, given that they are a major source of pollution. For listed govt organisations, circulars can be sent directly, especially to the larger ones, as the responsible authorities can manage that.”But he also acknowledged the structural challenge. “Many sectors are not very organised, so in practice, implementation can be difficult. It is a bit soon to check the implementation also. That said, periodic checks should be in place, and sectors must be clearly identified and guided with precise directions.”(With inputs from ToI)