As a result of ongoing closures, program cancellations, and adjustments to City operations and services, the City of London announced today that approximately 200 full-time staff will be going on a temporary unpaid Declared Emergency Leave.
COVID-19 and Provincial orders have required reductions in service and a move to minimal day-to-day operations. With this continuing, the staffing needs of the organization have been impacted and workforce adjustments are being made to reflect the current needs. Financial impacts related to COVID-19 have been estimated at between $23 and $33 million.
Since the threat of COVID-19 first emerged earlier this year, the City has taken precautions to help slow the spread of this virus, to protect the community and to protect staff. This has included closure of all City facilities, cancellation of programming, acting on Provincial Orders, and an ongoing commitment to sustain essential services and minimal operations in light of the declared State of Emergency. During this time, any necessary work that could be conducted safely in support of the City and the community has also continued, and every effort has been made to redeploy staff where possible.
“With the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and Provincial Emergency Orders, we’ve been delivering essential services and minimal operations, and we remain committed to that,” said Lynne Livingstone, City Manager. “Until we reach a point where we can return to full services and operations, we are faced with reducing our staffing levels temporarily. This is a difficult decision, but this is necessary.”
In addition to impacts to full-time staff, the City has previously announced that approximately 1300 seasonal temporary and casual employees who have had their start dates deferred or been placed on a temporary unpaid leave, and 31 students whose contracts have been cancelled.