Hudson’s Bay laying off 2% of staff, realigning ‘strategic priorities’

In an effort to increase efficiencies within its operations, Hudson’s Bay is eliminating dozens of jobs.

According to news outlets, including CTV News, the retail giant is laying off approximately 250 employees, or two per cent of its total workforce. 

The reduction will largely impact Canadians in:

• Corporate roles at Hudson’s Bay and The Bay
• The company’s online and brick-and-mortar operations

In an email to Daily Hive on Jan. 24, spokesperson Tiffany Bourre said the changes come as the retail sector navigates significant external pressures.

“[Hudson’s Bay] is realigning its strategic priorities and increasing efficiencies within its operations,” Bourre said.

“While these decisions are not easy, we are committed to treating everyone with fairness and respect.”

Hudson’s Bay is the flagship brand of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), which is the oldest company in North America.

According to LinkedIn, HBC has more than 5,300 employees in Canada.

Major layoffs continue

Hudson’s Bay is the latest in a growing list of major North American companies that have announced sweeping layoffs to kick off 2023.

Alphabet, Clearco, Hootsuite, Benevity, Lightspeed, Clutch, Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce are significantly scaling back their staffing levels as they continue to monitor market conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Thinkific laying off 76 workers, looking to ‘return to profitability’
• Cloud Software Group cutting 15% of Citrix-TIBCO staff
• Layoffs in Canada

Termination agreements for Hudson’s Bay employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees and senior executives at Hudson’s Bay are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing or corporate restructuring.

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

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

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

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 you accept any severance offer, have an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review it and your employment contract.

We can tell you if what you have been provided is fair and how to get proper compensation if it falls short of what you are actually owed.

If you aren’t given the full amount, which happens often, you have been wrongfully dismissed and are entitled to compensation.