Report: Flames won't pay hourly employees for lost shifts

The Calgary Flames' ownership group will not be compensating hourly and event staff for shifts canceled due to the coronavirus.

Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, the entity that owns the Flames, the WHL's Hitmen, the National Lacrosse League's Roughnecks, and the CFL's Stampeders, informed relevant workers they won't be paid for work lost to the shutdown, according to an email obtained by the Calgary Herald's Sammy Hudes.

The Flames, Hitmen, and Roughnecks all play their home games at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome.

"Unless notified by your supervisor, all scheduled shifts are canceled," the email reads, according to Hudes. "CSEC will pay for your March 12, 2020, shift if you were scheduled to work as the notice of cancellation was less than the 24 hours required by Alberta employment standards. Any shifts on March 13, 2020, and beyond must be pre-approved by your supervisor."

CSEC added that no payments will be made for shifts canceled with more than 24 hours' notice.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier this week that the federal government will waive the standard one-week waiting period for employment insurance amid the outbreak. CSEC workers are eligible to apply, but the organization stated that "employees must have sufficient insurable hours to qualify for EI benefits."

The city of Calgary is footing $290 million of the $565 million going toward CSEC's new arena project.

Another Canadian NHL club, the Winnipeg Jets, has also confirmed it won't be paying roughly 1,200 hourly and event staff during the hiatus. "They work when we work," True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman said Thursday.

The New Jersey Devils were among multiple NHL teams that committed Friday to paying hourly and event staff for games and events that are postponed or canceled amid the pandemic.