Calgary postponing mandatory return to work for city employees

Calgary will postpone plans to bring city employees back from home-based work on Sept. 15moving the target date to Oct. 20 citing the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta.

In a release, the city said that when the employees do come back, they'll beasked to return toin-person work for a minimum of three days per week, unless an approved telework arrangement was previously settled on.

"We will continue to monitor the infection rates, provincial protocols and Alberta Health Services guidance, and will update our plans accordingly as the situation evolves," said Michael Thompson, the city's acting manager, in the release.

Plans are also in the works for mandatory rapid testing for those employees who are not fully vaccinated.

The city said it would "comply with its human rights obligations and accommodate employees who are legally entitled to accommodation."

"We strongly encourage all employees to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible to help protect themselves and their co-workers, families and communities," Thompson said.