City could face staffing issues as Omicron peaks

By COLLIN GALLANT on January 25, 2022.

A transit bus travels down Fourth Avenue on the Southeast Hill in this Oct. 25, 2021 file photo. The city has announced that upcoming schedules may be affected if staff absences rise sharply due to Omicron.--News Photo Collin Gallant

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

City Hall is warning residents that the next few weeks could see staff shortages, and wants to ensure transit riders are able to get to where they’re going with minimal disruption and effect to city services, as cases of the Omicron variant are expected to peak.

Top administrators made the statement at Monday’s public services committee, several days after transit officials advised residents to watch the department’s social media account in case of short-notice changes to routes and schedule if a large enough portion of drivers become ill or must isolate.

“We haven’t recorded any service disruptions, but we are seeing higher absences,” said public services managing director Brian Mastel.

“There is a higher risk” as Omicron cases rise that city managers would be required to redeploy staff to areas of high absenteeism, and with it a plan to prioritize what is offered to the public, he said.

Last Friday, the transit department told residents who rely on the service that changes could come, and they should watch the city’s website and a transit rider computer app for updates.

“Our priority is keeping our staff and passengers safe,” said transit superintendent Gordon Dykstra in a release. “If our drivers are sick, or are showing any symptoms, we ask they stay home until they’ve fully recovered. We are continuing to monitor our operations and are prepared to adjust service accordingly if necessary.”

Last week, Premier Jason Kenney told a press conference that some data points to a potential easing of case rates in the coming few weeks.

This month, the city emergency manager told council there has yet to be a case of recorded transmission within a city workplace among employees.

Tracking absenteeism through the payroll system, only about 5 per cent of the city’s 800 person workforce has been off at any given time, but the figure has been higher in some departments, causing problems.

Emergency management officials told council earlier this month that each department has a contingency plan in place that would see to operations and provide services deemed essential with two-thirds the workforce.

Some workers are cross-trained or have previous experience in other departments, and could transfer if needed.

Some services considered non-critical could be suspended however, or postponed until after staffing returns to normal.

Hitch in Crestwood Rec plan

Planning to maintain existing services is also creating a minor delay on plans to reopen the Crestwood Pool.

That facility was closed in 2020 but staff are preparing it to reopen, and currently providing water quality testing required by Alberta Health Services. However, recreation officials told Monday’s meeting that they are using caution in the short term, and will use newly hired staff, if needed, to bolster staffing levels at the FLC, if needed.

“We are holding them (Crestwood hires) in reserve until a peak, rather them open another aquatic centre” and face closing it if a large portion of the workforce goes out, said Mastel.