Alterra announces furloughs, layoffs, and other cutbacks

[ski diva]

This is hardly surprising:

Alterra announces furloughs, layoffs and other cutbacks
News NEWS | April 5, 2020

John Meyer, The Denver Post

Alterra Mountain Company, which owns 15 North American ski resorts including Winter Park and Steamboat, will furlough year-round employees who cannot work due to ski area closures caused by the coronavirus and “the prospect of zero revenue for the foreseeable future,” chief executive Rusty Gregory wrote in a letter to employees on Thursday.

The plan takes effect Saturday.

“Year-round employees in the U.S. who are unable to perform their work at either home, resort or office due to work restrictions aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus will not receive pay,” Gregory said. “They will remain an employee of their resort or business but will be listed on payroll for ‘zero hours’ and will not be working until these restrictions are lifted.”

Alterra laid off 17,000 seasonal employees on March 14, the day Gov. Jared Polis closed Colorado ski areas effective the next day. Seasonal employment at Alterra’s Colorado mountains typically ends in April.

Company spokeswoman Kristin Rust said she didn’t know how many year-round employees will be affected by furloughs that begin Saturday.

Alterra has cut operating expenses across the board, Gregory said, and more than 50% of previously planned capital expenditures will be postponed.

 

[Jilly]

Well in Canada they will get the CERB benefit. Which is $500/week.

 

[newboots]

They are likely eligible for unemployment here in the US, too, although I don't know the technicality of being "still employed but recording zero hours." Hopefully, Alterra is not cutting them off from unemployment plus the $600 from the federal government.

 

[ilovepugs]

They are likely eligible for unemployment here in the US, too, although I don't know the technicality of being "still employed but recording zero hours." Hopefully, Alterra is not cutting them off from unemployment plus the $600 from the federal government.

I believe that if your income is reduced by 30% or more, you will be eligible for unemployment.

 

[mustski]

From https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/temporary-layoffs

"Furloughs:
Furloughs are a form of temporary layoff that may consist of a complete stoppage of work or reduced work hours over a period of time (for example, a reduction of one day a week for a year).

Since unemployment benefits are determined on a weekly basis, full-time workers whose hours of work are reduced by one work day each week usually will not be eligible for partial unemployment benefits because they earn too much in the week to be eligible.

If you are placed on furlough, you may apply for unemployment benefits and we will determine if you are eligible. Sign in to eServices or create an account."

I'm hoping Alterra is furloughing the employees for a period of time, rather than laying them off, so that they can continue to receive health benefits. They should still be able to collect unemployment if they are accruing zero hours. They will still technically be employed.