Photo: Contributed

The City of Penticton has laid off 20 per cent of its workforce in light of COVID-9.

"This difficult announcement follows initial steps taken in mid March to adjust the City’s workforce in response to provincial health orders requiring local governments to protect their residents and staff from the spread of COVID-19 by closing all public facilities,” said Penticton city manager Donny van Dyk.  

“The impact of those orders was immediate and deep reaching to several city departments, particularly those providing daily services and programs at facilities now closed to the public.  Additional measures, including extending options for voluntary temporary layoffs, were put forth one week later, followed by today’s announcement which introduces workforce reductions across every department.”  

The city calls the layoffs "temporary," and announced it will also be lowering spending in other areas by canceling or deferring projects, reducing certain non-essential service levels, limiting the use of consultants and reducing non-essential travel and training.

“These are unprecedented circumstances, a time when we must think deeply about the roles and impacts of COVID-19 on our incredible City staff, review our approach to managing the business and operations of the City throughout this crisis, and remain acutely aware and responsive to the highly disruptive outcome COVID-19 is having on our residents, our businesses and our way of life,” said Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki.