Here is a quick summary of some of the temporary changes to the Employment Standards in Alberta due to COVID-19 that may impact small businesses . If you require support with these changes please reach out.
1. Job Protected Leave - updates to Personal and Family Responsibility Leave with COVID-19 for employees caring for children affected by school and daycare closures or ill or self-isolated family members due to COVID-19:
waiving the 90 days employment required
maximum time originally from 5 calendar days per year to 14 days now to a flexible length linked to the guidance from Chief Medical Officer
no required medical note
2. Notice of shift changes: 24 hr notice is removed
3. HWAA (Hours of Work Averaging Agreement) 2 week change notice is waived
4. Temporary layoff maximum number of days from 60 to 120 days (retroactive to March 17th)
Recommended Follow Up from Change:
have a benefits plan for the job protected leave (maintaining benefits, how premiums are paid, or terminating benefits), as the timeline is unknown you may want to put in a review day or specific limits to control costs. Also need to ensure it aligns with your benefits policy.
Need to be assessed when looking at permanent terminations as if meeting the leave requirements would not be able to process a permanent termination. Need to look at temporary layoff / leave of absence as an alternative.
When making temporary layoff decisions, ensure they are informed decisions: see previous blog for details.
Full information can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-support-for-employers.aspx