An internal letter to Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) employees put on unpaid suspension was leaked to the Western Standard and stated the company is reviewing COVID-19 policy and polling employees on their intention to return..The letter dated February 14 with the subject “Return from Unpaid Suspension” said the company plans to review its COVID-19 policy after the Alberta government announced its plans to ease or remove public health protocols..“In conjunction with this review, we are planning for a staged and safe return of employees, currently working remotely, to their respective Canadian Natural work location,” said the letter..“Further information will be provided to employees once the plan has been completed.”.The letter goes on to say once energy giant CNRL lifts its COVID-19 restrictions, “employees that are currently suspended” will be included in the return to work plan..“As we plan, we are seeking clarity regarding the current status of our suspended employees.”.Suspended employees are then asked to choose a response, whether they will return to work after their suspension is lifted or they have found other employment and will not be returning..Respondents are requested to submit their reply to CNRL human resources by February 25..Lawyer Leighton Grey of Grey Wowk Spencer LLP said his firm is representing about 70 employees CNRL put on involuntary leave without pay..Grey said he has advised his clients — many of whom have been off work for more than two months —not to respond to the letter..“First of all, CNRL is very upset this letter was released and it’s been causing a lot of problems for them,” Grey told the Western Standard..“But the real issue is, what this letter is actually saying is, even after mistreating these employees and violating their employment rights, they have no intention of compensating these people or even admitting any wrongdoing..“These people have suffered emotional, mental and physical harm from this.”.Grey said the actions of CNRL have “damaged trust levels” in his clients and several of them have expressed they don’t know what they should do..“I am telling them I recommend they don’t respond to this letter,” said Grey, adding, “The damage is done; the heartache is done.”.“They (CNRL) haven’t made it clear, do they want these people back or are they just doing a headcount of how many lawsuits they will have to contend with.”.Grey said he’s advising his clients to “hold out until a sincere and better overture comes.”.“They need to hold out until CNRL offers some enticement to come back and there is some recognition of wrongdoing.”.In October, a group of 1,100 employees and contractors at CNRL wrote to CEO Tim McKay demanding the company stop plans for a mandatory vaccine program. Following the announcement of the mandatory vaccination policy from CNRL, affiliate companies, including North West Redwater Partnership followed suit..Naomi Smart — a heavy equipment operator with CNRL — was the first employee to be “dismissed without cause” in late October with no warning or notice..In December, Smart, with the help of Calgary lawyer James Kitchen, sued CNRL for unlawful dismissal after she was fired for allegedly communicating about the company’s mandatory vaccine policy on social media..Just before Christmas, fired CNRL employees released a Christmas video protesting the company’s actions..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
An internal letter to Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) employees put on unpaid suspension was leaked to the Western Standard and stated the company is reviewing COVID-19 policy and polling employees on their intention to return..The letter dated February 14 with the subject “Return from Unpaid Suspension” said the company plans to review its COVID-19 policy after the Alberta government announced its plans to ease or remove public health protocols..“In conjunction with this review, we are planning for a staged and safe return of employees, currently working remotely, to their respective Canadian Natural work location,” said the letter..“Further information will be provided to employees once the plan has been completed.”.The letter goes on to say once energy giant CNRL lifts its COVID-19 restrictions, “employees that are currently suspended” will be included in the return to work plan..“As we plan, we are seeking clarity regarding the current status of our suspended employees.”.Suspended employees are then asked to choose a response, whether they will return to work after their suspension is lifted or they have found other employment and will not be returning..Respondents are requested to submit their reply to CNRL human resources by February 25..Lawyer Leighton Grey of Grey Wowk Spencer LLP said his firm is representing about 70 employees CNRL put on involuntary leave without pay..Grey said he has advised his clients — many of whom have been off work for more than two months —not to respond to the letter..“First of all, CNRL is very upset this letter was released and it’s been causing a lot of problems for them,” Grey told the Western Standard..“But the real issue is, what this letter is actually saying is, even after mistreating these employees and violating their employment rights, they have no intention of compensating these people or even admitting any wrongdoing..“These people have suffered emotional, mental and physical harm from this.”.Grey said the actions of CNRL have “damaged trust levels” in his clients and several of them have expressed they don’t know what they should do..“I am telling them I recommend they don’t respond to this letter,” said Grey, adding, “The damage is done; the heartache is done.”.“They (CNRL) haven’t made it clear, do they want these people back or are they just doing a headcount of how many lawsuits they will have to contend with.”.Grey said he’s advising his clients to “hold out until a sincere and better overture comes.”.“They need to hold out until CNRL offers some enticement to come back and there is some recognition of wrongdoing.”.In October, a group of 1,100 employees and contractors at CNRL wrote to CEO Tim McKay demanding the company stop plans for a mandatory vaccine program. Following the announcement of the mandatory vaccination policy from CNRL, affiliate companies, including North West Redwater Partnership followed suit..Naomi Smart — a heavy equipment operator with CNRL — was the first employee to be “dismissed without cause” in late October with no warning or notice..In December, Smart, with the help of Calgary lawyer James Kitchen, sued CNRL for unlawful dismissal after she was fired for allegedly communicating about the company’s mandatory vaccine policy on social media..Just before Christmas, fired CNRL employees released a Christmas video protesting the company’s actions..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
