Shaw temporarily lays off 10% of its employees due to COVID-19

Calgary-based Shaw Communications announced on Tuesday that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it'll temporarily lay off 10% of its workforce. The company said the layoffs will begin on Thursday, April 16, affecting fewer than 1,000 of its 10,000 employees. Most of the laid-off staff work in retail and sales roles. Shaw and Shaw-owned Freedom Mobile closed most of its retail stores to comply with government directives to help slow the spread of the virus.

"Government leaders across the country have taken significant and necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of Canadians and to limit the spread of the virus. These measures have resulted in dramatic shortages or stoppages of work in specific areas of our business where we have had to make the hard decisions being announced today," said Shaw president Paul McAleese.

"We value the hard work and expertise of all our employees in helping deliver connectivity to our customers across the country. Unfortunately, these changes are necessary until our business activities resume to more normal levels."

Shaw said it isn't eligible for emergency government assistance programs, but the company plans to use its funds to top up government Employment Insurance payments depending on employees' earnings. And that it will continue to extend benefits and pension contributions for eligible non-unionized employees during the temporary layoff period.

Source: Shaw