The temporary layoff period in B.C. just got a little bit longer.
The provincial government has announced that it has extended the temporary layoff period to 16 weeks for COVID-19 related reasons.
The province says the move is being done in order to ease financial hardship on businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously under British Columbia’s Employment Standards Act, a temporary layoff longer than 13 weeks in a 20-week period was considered a permanent layoff.
When an employee is permanently laid off, employers are required to provide them with written notice of termination and, if applicable, pay them severance based on their length of employment.
But now, temporary layoffs relating to the COVID-19 pandemic can be extended to 16 weeks, as long as the employee agrees, according to the province.
The move is intended to be temporary and aligns the federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit period, the province says.
“The federal period provides 16 weeks of financial support, allowing employees to take full advantage of those benefits. It also allows employees to keep their job, even if they are not working, for 16 weeks of a temporary layoff,” the province said in its release.
The province also says employers will be able to quickly resume operations should the public health emergency end within that time.
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