Employees quitting, changing careers due to COVID-19

A recent report by Statistics Canada revealed that 22 per cent of Canadian businesses that they surveyed were anticipating challenges in “retaining skilled employees” over the next three months.

There were also concerns by 23.8 per cent of businesses surveyed about to a “shortage in labour force” that was identified as causing increasing difficulties in the near future.

Sectors that were identified as being most hard hit by the issue were retail (32 per cent) and accommodation and food (31 per cent).

Instability in restaurant industry

Industry lobby group Restaurants Canada says that over 800,000 restaurant and food workers either lost their jobs or had their hours cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restaurant owner Paul Grunberg, owner of Savio Volpe in Vancouver, believes it is because of the instability of the restaurant industry that some workers are quitting and looking for careers in different sectors.

Employees are seeking alternatives

Recruitment and retention problems are also a possible stumbling block to the economic recovery in Alberta, where unemployment is looming at 9 per cent.

Scott Crockatt, a spokesperson for the Business Council of Alberta, says that many of the province’s largest employers are having difficulty recruiting for vacant positions.

An Edmonton-based oil and gas company, Morgan Construction and Environmental, is currently trying to fill over 75 job vacancies – where normally they would only a few positions open at once. President and CEO Peter Kiss believes that the stress from the mixture of travel and safety precautions required for the work has led many to quit their jobs and look for alternative employment.

Quitting and severance pay

Although quitting might seem like your best option if work has become too stressful, keep in mind that your employer does not have to pay you severance when you quit. When you decide to end or leave the employment relationship with your employer, it is a situation that is out of your employer’s control. In this case they do not owe you any severance.

MORE ON SEVERANCE
• Severance Pay in Ontario
• Severance Pay in Alberta
• Severance Pay in BC

Severance when you’re forced to quit

If your work situation changes through no fault of your own, you are entitled to severance pay. An employer does not have the right to make significant changes to the terms of employment without your consent. This includes a cut to your salary, change in job title, or ongoing workplace harassment.

This is why it isn’t always advisable to quit your job. If your employer has made changes to your job, you may have a claim for constructive dismissal, and could end up leaving your job with full severance pay.