Canada Goose cuts 800 staff after warm winter, lower demand

Canada Goose has reported a significant reduction in its global corporate workforce by 17%, or roughly 800 employees. This announcement, shared by CBC News after CEO Dani Reiss posted on Canada Goose’s LinkedIn page, underscores the company’s efforts to streamline operations and cut costs in a changing economy.

Key points from the announcement

• Workforce Reduction: Canada Goose is laying off 17% of its global corporate staff. While the exact number of affected employees has not been disclosed, the move is framed as a strategy to enhance operational efficiency.
• Strategic Initiatives: The layoffs are part of a broader strategy to position the company for sustainable growth.
• CEO’s Message: Reiss expressed deep gratitude towards the “instrumental” employees for their  contributions to the company and for “spending part of [their] career” at Canada Goose. He said the decision was “heartbreaking” but “necessary for the next phase of [the] business.”
• Leadership Changes: Along with the layoffs, Canada Goose has announced changes in leadership roles to streamline operations and decision-making.

Warm Winter and Drop in Demand

Canada Goose’s decision comes against the backdrop of a challenging winter season, marked by delayed parka sales due to unseasonably warm temperatures.

The company is also feeling the impact of a slowdown in consumer demand. Canada Goose saw sales grow 6% compared to the previous year, but the results were short of market expectations. The luxury winter clothing maker is also contending with high inflation and interest rates.

Despite the layoffs, Canada Goose says is looking ahead to its next fiscal year with optimism.

Impact on Canadian staff

It remains unclear how many Canadian employees at Canada Goose will lose their jobs. Financial markets firm Refinitiv says the company had 4,760 workers in April 2023.

Termination Agreements for Staff at Canada Goose

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

This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

People working “on contract” or as a contractor may also be owed severance pay — given that many employees in Canada are often misclassified as independent contractors.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains what rights employees have if they are being fired or let go on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

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.

LEARN MORE
• Severance pay for banking sector employees
• Rights to severance for federally regulated workers
• Severance packages for provincially regulated employees

Major layoffs continue

The job cuts at Canada Goose come amid continuing layoffs in 2024.

Big names, including Dell, Cisco, Catalent, Mozilla, Instacart, BlackBerry, Enbridge, PayPal, UPS, Microsoft, Rona, eBay, and Wayfair, are significantly scaling back their staffing levels as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

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.