Over 150 Employees Fired as Attabotics Files for Bankruptcy Protection

What’s Going On At Attabotics?

Once a celebrated name in Calgary’s tech sector, Attabotics has collapsed into bankruptcy protection and terminated most of its 300-person workforce without notice.

According to Global News, employees were informed via a Sunday night email on June 29 not to report to work and to expect official termination letters the following day.

• More than 150 staff are believed to have been let go.
• Employees, known internally as “Atta Peeps,” were ordered to return company property.
• There was no clear communication on severance, benefits, or reimbursement of expenses.

A notice posted on the company’s Calgary headquarters door simply read:

On Tuesday, July 1, Industry Canada confirmed it had received a formal Notice of Intention to File for Bankruptcy from Attabotics.

“Recovering Visionary”: CEO Goes Silent

Attabotics’ founder and CEO, Scott Gravelle, known for bold claims about exponential revenue growth, has yet to speak publicly. His LinkedIn now describes him as:

The company, which once positioned itself as a game-changer in warehouse automation, received substantial backing:

• $4.5 million from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund
• Funding from the federal government
• Investment from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

None of these backers have commented on the shutdown.

Employee Rights When a Company Files for Bankruptcy

When a company like Attabotics formally files for bankruptcy under the BIA or CCAA, employees are terminated, but their ability to collect severance is severely limited.

Employees become unsecured creditors — meaning they are at the back of the line when assets are divided.

What That Means:

• In theory, workers are owed up to 24 months’ compensation as severance pay in Alberta when terminated without cause — even if a company closes.
• In reality, when bankruptcy is declared, employees are unlikely to receive full severance because secured creditors (like banks) get paid first.
• Outstanding wages, vacation pay, or expenses may be partially recoverable through the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP).

Lost Your Job But No Bankruptcy Filed? We Can Help

If your employer has fired you, shut down operations, laid off staff, or stopped paying wages — but hasn’t formally filed for bankruptcy protection — Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can help your get up to 24 months’ pay in severance.

Speak with an employment lawyer Calgary or Edmonton serving all of Alberta – we’ve helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals across the country resolve their workplace issues.

Call us today at 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.