Perth and Kinross Council staff have been told to prepare for redeployment.
Local authority chiefs are working on a contingency plan for employees, which could see some workers – such as teachers and librarians – given new roles to ensure critical services continue.
Notices were emailed to staff at the weekend. They have been told they will be expected to carry out “reasonable duties” or face a pay cut.
Some can expect to work from home doing jobs they are already familiar with, but others could be given roles that are very different from what they’re used to.
Employees have been told: “You may be asked to support the delivery of essential services and undertake work not normally associated with your current role or work at an alternative work location.
“We are currently exploring the detail of how this will be delivered and managed.”
Chief executive Karen Reid, who has been in talks with trade unions about the proposals, said: “Our staff, as you would expect, are being retasked and redeployed into providing essential services that support the health, wellbeing and safety of our citizens across Perth and Kinross.
“While you will not see our usual standard of performance, please understand that we are doing all we can to protect human life and must deploy our finite resources to this.”
Employees are told that their holidays could be cancelled in “exceptional circumstances”.
In a message sent to staff, a council spokesman said: “We are currently living through unprecedented times and are confronting some of the greatest challenges we have ever faced.
“We know that if we can work together, we can continue to support the most vulnerable in our communities and continue to deliver essential and critical services.
“We know that this means that there are increased demands placed on us all and appreciate that as well as being a valued member of PKC, you are also a family member to others. We want to give a commitment that we support all of our colleagues during this difficult and uncertain time.”
Staff were told: “We know you are keen to help out in these unprecedented circumstances and would like to thank all staff who have already offered to take on other tasks. You have shown how skilled, dedicated and compassionate PKC staff are and your support is truly appreciated.”
Employees who have a genuine reason that prevents them from carrying out new duties are told to speak to their line manager. They are told that failure to carry out reasonable work or redeployment “could result in your pay being affected.”
