The Government of Alberta has extended the temporary layoff period. A non-unionized employee can now be temporarily laid-off, for reasons related to COVID-19, for 180 days.

Bill 24 received its first reading on June 18, 2020. Bill 24 changes the Employment Standards Code by extending the time an employee can be laid-off before they are deemed to have been terminated. Non-unionized employees can now be temporarily laid-off for 180 days if the reason for the layoff is related to COVID-19. The extended period applies to any employee who is currently on a layoff and any employee laid-off on or after June 18, 2020. For workplaces with unionized employees, reference should be had to the applicable collective agreement.