COVID-19 Update: Alberta Extends COVID-19 Related Temporary Layoffs To 180 Days

With the expiry of Alberta's state of public health emergency on June 15, 2020, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 24, the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 ("Bill 24"), which aims to continue or extend certain pandemic response efforts. Bill 24 proposes amendments to 15 different statutes, seeking to ensure Albertans have access to the support and services they need as the economy re-opens.

Of the proposed amendments, Bill 24 will amend Alberta's Employment Standards Code by extending the maximum time for temporary layoffs related to COVID-19 to 180 days. This amendment is anticipated to be effective as of June 18, 2020, and appears to be temporary in nature with the ability to be repealed by proclamation.