RELEASE: OEG announces temporary staffing plan

EDMONTON, AB - Due to the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19, Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) today implemented a temporary staff reduction of 139 employees, effective April 13, 2020, as well as a compensation rollback for all continuing staff working from home.
These actions were made necessary by the pause of the NHL and AHL seasons, the cancellation of the WHL season, and the postponement of all Live Entertainment events at Rogers Place enacted to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and protect the safety of fans and employees.
OEG also created employee assistance funding to lessen the impacts on staff. Combined with government programs, this funding will ensure that all non-executive employees, whether on temporary lay-off or working from home, will receive as much as 75% to 90% of their salary.
"Like so many other businesses in the sports, entertainment and hospitality industry, we are implementing these measures in the face of an unprecedented challenge and rapidly evolving landscape. These actions are difficult but necessary to respond to the reality of an effective shutdown of our business. In spite of this, we remain committed to doing all that we can for our employees," said OEG Business President & COO Tom Anselmi. "We are protecting the livelihood of our employees as best we can and are committed to getting them back to work as soon as possible."
Today's actions follow a March 24 decision by the organization's senior hockey and business executives to voluntarily forgo between 50% to 100% of their compensation to help sustain the business through the COVID-19 crisis.