By rdnewsNOW staff

back on the job

City staff laid off during pandemic returning to work

Jul 20, 2020 | 2:35 PM

More than half of the City of Red Deer employees who were laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic are back on the job.

Officials with the Human Resources department say that of the 137 permanent staff given work interruption notices in April, 74 have since returned either fully or in part as of Friday.

The City says additional rehiring will happen moving forward.

“As facilities, programs and services continue to re-open, The City will need to continue to recall employees to staff these areas,” The City’s HR department tells rdnewsNOW. “We do not yet know exactly what this might look like. However, we continue to assess this on an ongoing basis as our needs change and evolve.”

Since the city’s Emergency Operations Centre was activated on March 13, The City says it has hired 37 new staff to fill various vacancies of permanent, seasonal or casual positions. This includes, but is not limited to, 15 in Environmental Services (including 10 seasonal employees), five in Emergency Services (four Firefighters and one Safety Codes Officer in Prevention), and six seasonal Parks employees.

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“There have been many changes during COVID 19 as we worked to support in efforts to keep our staff and the community safe,” the city says. “As health guidelines and Provincial guidelines were put in place, and as things continue to re-open, The City responded and continues to respond as necessary.”

The City of Red Deer’s response to the pandemic, as it pertained to staff, included discharging casual employees, laying off permanent employees and recalling and redeploying employees. Officials say these measures occurred as The City assessed each phase and made adjustments throughout the evolution of the pandemic.

In late March, other City staff beginning working from home where possible, with some continuing to do so. Some workers have been returning to the workplace with modifications and protocols in place to control the workplace hazards associated with COVID 19.

The City HR department says all decisions regarding staffing stemmed from the recommendations and requirements being made by the province and Chief Medical Officer of Health.

(Josh Hall, Troy Gillard)