Avaya Layoffs: Mass cuts affect 3% of workforce amid reorganization

What’s happening at Avaya?

American multinational technology company Avaya has announced mass layoffs, affecting 180 employees or roughly 3% of its workforce. According to reporting by Dataquest and CX Today, the move is part of a reorganization to enhance productivity and focus on core business segments, particularly contact centres and unified communications.

Official statements and context

An Avaya spokesperson said that the company is “positioning the business for success, reinvestment, and growth,” and that “these changes enable us to best support our key customers and partners, which means everyone is positioned to achieve their goals.”

• In addition, Avaya stated that “other positions are being created” but have provided no further insight of what these positions may be.
• Avaya aims to streamline operations and maintain high customer service levels despite the layoffs.
• The company is adjusting to a subscription-based revenue model to ensure financial stability.
• Former Director of Solution Marketing at Avaya, Steve Forcum, stated, “some of the names impacted today truly boggle the mind, including a couple of incredible technical pre-sales specialists, consultants, and architects who were supporting a veritable who’s who of Fortune 100 accounts.”

Layoffs in Canada

It remains unclear exactly how many Avaya employees in Canada will lose their job as a result of this layoff.

Your rights

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Avaya are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing, corporate restructuring, or the closure of the business.

This applies to individuals working in any capacity — full-time, part-time, hourly, or potentially even independent contractors — in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Severance is the compensation provided to non-unionized workers in Canada by their employer when they are terminated without cause, and can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains why you are still owed severance if you have been downsized on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Severance offers and deadlines

Before accepting a severance offer, double-check the amount using our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator. It has helped millions of Canadians determine their entitlements.

In addition to your salary, make sure to factor in any other elements of your compensation (i.e. bonuses, commission, etc.).

If your employer’s offer falls short of what our Severance Pay Calculator says you are owed, it’s very likely that you have been wrongfully dismissed and should contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Non-unionized employees in Canada have up to two years from the date of their dismissal to pursue proper severance pay. An employer’s deadline to sign back a severance offer is not legally enforceable or binding.

LEARN MORE
• Severance pay for provincially regulated employees
• Rights to severance during mass layoffs
• Severance entitlements in a recession

Major layoffs continue

The job cuts come amid a flurry of layoffs in 2024.

Big names, including Intuit, UiPath, Dyson, Vancity, Stifel, WillScot of Canada, Netflix, AmDocs, EXL Service, Best Buy, Relic Entertainment, Ubisoft, Intel, Amazon, and Telus, have pulled out the axe as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Shell to lay off 20% of deals division, part of restructuring
• Walmart Canada cuts jobs amid restructuring, shift to Spark: Reports
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.