A mayor in the Philippines has ordered all local government workers and officials to smile while serving the public – and threatened disciplinary action against those who fail to comply.
Aristotle Aguirre, the mayor of Mulanay in Quezon, has sought to tackle an apparent problem of low spirits among staff by signing an executive order adopting a “smile policy”.
The order states that there should be “strict compliance” with the policy among “all departments, offices, units and sections” while serving the public, and that human resources would provide further details, including how staff would be monitored.
Aguirre is not the only official insisting members of local government be more cheerful.
Another city’s mayor, Kevin Anarna, has also instructed employees not to frown, promising a new style of service.
In a speech Anarna said frowning is prohibited before adding, “Some of our employees, I don’t know if they were conceived out of resentment…”
Anarna also banned officials from wearing any colours associated with political parties instructing them to just wear white.
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