Tax Articles

The BIR’s Mental Health Program

By: Atty. Rodel C. Unciano

In its effort of providing excellent services with integrity and professionalism to all taxpayers, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has recently issued Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 15-2021 prescribing its policies, guidelines and strategies in promoting the mental health of its people and to ensure that employees affected are able to exercise the full range of human rights and participate fully at work, free from stigmatization and discrimination.

An employee at risk or identified to have a mental health condition shall not be discriminated in any form, regardless of status, age, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, creed or religion. Also, any employee who is at risk or identified to have a mental health condition shall not be discriminated in terms of recruitment, promotion and termination. They shall not be discriminated nor prevented from receiving benefits as government employees because of their condition. They shall continue to perform their duties and responsibilities, provided they are issued a certification that their condition does not impede their productivity and that they are still fit to work, and continued work will not aggravate their mental health condition.

Employees identified to have mental condition and have undergone treatment and recovered as certified by an attending physician, shall not be prevented from returning to work provided an accredited physician certifies that the employee is fit to work. Work arrangements that are adaptable and flexible should be set in place to accommodate employees at risk or employees identified with mental health conditions. All information and medical records, including those submitted during the recruitment process shall be protected and treated with confidentiality, as provided under applicable laws and rules.

Employees at risk or identified with mental condition shall not be deprived of the opportunity to work and to participate in policy making and program implementation relating to mental health. They shall not be prevented from exercising their inherent civil, political, economic, social, religious and cultural rights. Further, they shall have access to affordable evidence-based treatment and medical services, and participate in mental health advocacy, policy planning, legislation, service provision, monitoring, research and evaluation.

Regular stress management and team-building activities are encouraged to be conducted in all BIR offices at least once a year. Sports tournaments are likewise to be conducted every year. Physical fitness activities are encouraged to be done regularly after office hours. Posting of campaign posters in all BIR offices are likewise encouraged to raise awareness in mental health. Also, seminars, symposiums or fora on mental health shall be conducted to spread the value of mental health.

Identified measures for treatment and recovery of affected employees include provision of support to employees with mental health issues at work by providing referrals, conduct of debriefing interventions in case of life-threatening situations or traumatic experience, conduct of stress debriefing to all employees who suffered tragic and stressful life experience, among others.

Day in and day out, the BIR is facing a big challenge in meeting the revenue collection goal of the government. This task is certainly exhausting especially in this time of economic downturn. Thus, the health conditions of its people are a paramount consideration.