The Calgary Flames have announced a program to help compensate part-time employees who are unable to work with the NHL season being on pause because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The program will provide part-time employees who are applying for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to receive a top-up payment from Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. The team will pay up to 95 per cent of the regular average insurable earnings (the maximum allowable by Service Canada) until the end of the Flames’ regular season.
Employees who are not eligible to receive EI benefits due to not working sufficient hours will be paid the equivalent top-up portion from the team.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to cause great uncertainly for everyone,” Flames president and CEO John Bean said in a release. “We continue to monitor the situation and evaluate any and all options that we may be able to undertake to help us navigate this very fluid situation.”
The Flames are the latest team to join a widespread group of athletes and franchises across the sporting world that are supporting game-day staff and other team employees.
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