Dyson Layoffs: 1,000 jobs cuts in UK, part of global reduction to remain ‘agile’

What’s happening at Dyson?

Dyson is cutting around 1,000 employees in the UK, which represents 25% of the country’s workforce.

The British appliance maker, which has been operating out of Singapore the last few years, informed staff about the layoffs on Tuesday. This move is part of a broader reduction affecting Dyson’s global workforce of over 15,000 employees, unnamed sources told The Financial Times.

Official statements and context

The cuts are part of a wider reduction to its global workforce of more than 15,000 people, The Financial Times reported citing unnamed sources.

• Dyson CEO Hanno Kirner says that the company had expanded rapidly but faced “increasingly fierce and competitive global markets.” He emphasized the need for Dyson to become “entrepreneurial and agile” to navigate these challenges.
• This isn’t the first time Dyson has reduced its workforce. In 2020, the company laid off 900 employees, attributing those cuts to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Company performance

Despite the layoffs, Dyson’s financial performance has been strong. The company reported record revenues of $9.1 billion last year, an increase from 2022. Dyson’s product lineup includes vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, and other innovative devices.

Founded in 1991 by James Dyson, the company has undergone significant changes, including relocating its headquarters to Singapore in 2019. James Dyson, who ranks 109th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a net worth of $19.2 billion, made headlines when he purchased a $54 million penthouse in Singapore’s tallest building.

Impact on Canadian staff

It remains unclear if Canadian employees have been let go by Dyson in this latest round of layoffs.

Your next step

If you have been affected by the recent layoffs at Dyson, continue reading to find out what your rights are, and why you need to contact the employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

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• IBM layoffs hit long-serving employees in April: reports
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Termination agreements for Dyson employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Dyson 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 at Dyson come amid a flurry of layoffs in 2024.

Big names, including Vancity, Stifel, WillScot of Canada, Netflix, McKinsey & Co, EXL Service, Best Buy, Relic Entertainment, Ubisoft, Intel, Amazon, Telus, Canada Goose, Dell, Unilever, IBM, and TC Energy, 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.