The COVID-19 pandemic is having an effect on all industries in
a manner that has never been experienced before. For this reason,
it is important for employers to be prepared to respond quickly and
efficiently to this dynamic landscape.
This bulletin will discuss a number of options that employers
may have at their disposal during this unprecedented disruption to
the workforce.
1. Voluntary and Involuntary Temporary Layoffs
As businesses begin to experience a downturn, employers may need
to consider whether temporary layoffs are necessary. The parameters
of temporary layoffs are set out in the Employment Standards
Act (BC). An employer is only permitted to
temporarily layoff an employee in the following situations:
