Call it making the most out of a bad situation.

While NHL brass try to get the skates moving, the Edmonton Oilers are trying to keep their employees busy — even if that means lending them to other companies.

No NHL action on the ice at Rexall Place has meant little to do for some within the Edmonton Oilers organization.

But rather than line up the chopping block, the Oil have offered up their employees’ skills to charities and other companies in the city.

“Our crew started to reach out to companies in the Edmonton area and offered up resumes of some skilled people as a way of helping them, as a way of helping them out,” said the team’s COO Patrick LaForge Thursday.

“This way we don’t lose good employees, and we’ll retain those skills. The employee gets a full salary through the lockout, and we have an opportunity to bring them back.”

October is typically the start of regular season for NHL, and typically Tony Bao would be overseeing the endless ticket sales that come with a team like the Edmonton Oilers.

But these days he’s spending his time at the Winspear Centre, in charge of ticket sales for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

“I’ve been gaining a lot of valuable experience while at the same time applying what we know from the Edmonton Oilers,” said Bao, who has been with the Oilers for the past 21/2 years.

“It’s also exciting because I’m a huge music fan, so it’s been great,” he said.

And while all within the organization were able to escape layoffs and pay cuts, senior management wasn’t so fortunate.

LaForge said he, along with the rest of the management team, have taken a salary cut while the work stoppage is in place.

“I’d rather not talk about (how much,) but there is no NHL revenue coming in. It’s reality,” he said. “Financially you have to spread the money around. I’d rather not take a cut if you’re asking, but that’s what leadership is. We’re all in it together.”

In all, 20 people have been placed at partner organizations like the Christmas Bureau, Winspear Centre and West Edmonton Mall.

Under the agreement, the Oilers maintain the employees on the payroll and provide regular benefits.

When the lockout ends, the employees return, and their secondment employer is invoiced for a portion of the salary.

Meanwhile, it appears that there is no end to the lockout in sight.

A deadline to reach a new deal with the NHL Players’ Association, which would allow for the puck to drop Nov. 2, has now passed.

allison.salz@sunmedia.ca