7. Should an employee be worried about being laid off if they come forward? What can be done about these concerns while the case is going on?
The Council will normally take action to stabilize the workplace situation while it works on a case. This usually takes a few days after taking the case. The Council has a responsibility to recommend temporary or other adjustments in the work arrangements if it believes that further escalation or exacerbation of tensions are likely to take place while the case is under review.
While the case is going on, the employee is expected to continue to perform according to normal workplace standards, and supervisors are expected to treat the employee normally. Employees and their supervisors are asked to check with the Council if they are unsure how to handle any workplace situations, or if new tensions arise. While an employee could be laid off for business reasons, as could occur in a large layoff, the Council process would go forward. If the layoff was found to be retaliatory, the employee could be reinstated or other appropriate remedy found.