BASF Layoffs in Canada: September 2025 Update + Severance Rights

What’s Happening with BASF’s Cost-Cutting Plan?

On September 26, 2024, German chemical giant BASF announced a major cost-cutting program that includes layoffs, job cuts, and restructuring at its Ludwigshafen site and beyond, according to Yahoo! News.

How Many BASF Employees Are Impacted by Job Cuts?

BASF has not released an exact number of job cuts. However, with more than 112,000 workers globally, the restructuring is expected to impact a significant portion of its workforce.

The company said layoffs are tied to the restructuring of its German operations and the potential closure of additional facilities outside of Ludwigshafen.

Why is BASF Restructuring Now?

BASF cites several reasons for its cost-cutting push:

• High energy costs, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Low demand and global oversupply of chemicals, pushing prices down
• Declining profitability in agrichemicals and other divisions
• A renewed focus on core business units like chemicals, materials, and industrial solutions

Employee and Investor Reactions to BASF Layoffs

BASF’s restructuring has raised concern among both employees and investors. Workers have expressed anxiety about potential job losses at major sites like Ludwigshafen, while investor groups point to dividend cuts and division spin-offs as signs of ongoing uncertainty.

Unions in Germany have also warned that BASF’s cost-cutting measures could ripple across the broader chemical industry.

Are BASF Layoffs Affecting Canada?

Yes. Non-unionized BASF employees working in Canada have contacted Samfiru Tumarkin LLP after losing their jobs during this layoff.

If you work for BASF in Canada, you may be facing:

• Layoff notices
• Buyout offers
• Reassignments to lower-paid or temporary roles
• Pressure to resign (constructive dismissal)

Do BASF Employees in Canada Get Severance Pay?

Yes. If you are a non-unionized BASF employee in Canada, you are owed up to 24 months’ pay as severance.

Severance pay in Canada should include:

• Salary
• Bonuses or commissions
• Pension & benefits contributions
• Stock options, RSUs, or incentive pay
• Vacation pay and allowances

Can BASF Reduce My Pay or Reassign My Role Instead of Laying Me Off?

Yes, but it may qualify as constructive dismissal in Canada.

If BASF:

• Cuts your pay or bonuses
• Reduces your responsibilities
• Reassigns you to a new role you didn’t agree to
• Forces you to relocate

You may treat this as a termination without cause and claim full severance pay.

How Do I Know If My BASF Severance Package is Fair?

Your severance depends on factors like your age, position, length of service, and job market conditions.

BASF Layoff History

Here’s a timeline of how layoffs have unfolded:

How We’ve Helped in Layoffs

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we’ve secured major severance wins for employees at banks, insurers, and global firms:

• ✅ 24 months’ severance for a long-term professional after refusing unfair new terms post-acquisition. See our win →
• ✅ 6 months’ severance for a short-term executive pressured to sign an unfair release after termination. See our win →
• ✅ 4 months’ severance for an employee terminated after just eight months in a senior role. See our win →

Our clients are surprised at how much they’re legally owed to after they’ve been wrongfully dismissed — and legal fees are often covered by the employer.

FAQs on BASF Layoffs

Lost Your Job at BASF? Get Legal Help Now

If BASF fires you, pressures you into resigning, or cuts your pay, don’t sign anything before speaking to an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we have:

• 👥 Represented 50,000+ Canadians
• 💰 Secured millions in severance payouts
• ⚖️ Settled over 99% of cases out of court
• 📱 Free Termination Consultations — in many, but not all, cases
• ⭐ Earned 3,000+ 5-star Google reviews
• 🏆 Named on of Canada’s Best Law Firms

📞 Call us 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.