The Government of Alberta has introduced Bill 24, the
COVID-19 Pandemic Response Statutes Amendment Act, 2020
("
Bill-24") to validate the
Employment Standards (COVID-19 Leave) Regulation
("
COVID-19 Leave Regulation") and extend
the temporary layoff period under the Employment Standards
Code ("ESC
") to 180 days for employees who are laid off due to
COVID-19.
As daily COVID-19 cases continue to slowly increase in Alberta,
the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 24 on June 18, 2020.
Bill 24 proposes to extend the temporary layoff period under the
ESC with respect to an employee who is laid off for reasons related
to COVID-19. In normal circumstances, an employee who is laid off
for one or more periods exceeding 60 total days within a
120‑day period is deemed to have been terminated (unless
certain exceptions apply). However, if Bill 24 passes and receives
Royal Assent, effective June 18, 2020, employees who were laid off
at that time or who are subsequently
