No compensation for Hudson’s Bay employees: Employment lawyer with CBC

Interview Summary

Hudson’s Bay is set to lay off thousands of employees as the weeks proceed. After declaring creditor protection, the retailer will not be obliged to pay any of its former employees’ severance entitlements. While a heartbreaking result for former staff, experts state the problem lies with a lack of employee protection through legislation.

Jon Pinkus, an Ontario employment lawyer and Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP joined CBC Toronto to discuss what’s next for former Hudson’s Bay staff and if they have any options.

Interview Notes

• Rights for former employees: Pinkus noted that this situation is very similar to the closure of Sears Canada years ago. “It gives me deja vu,” Pinkus commented. “You’ve got a huge amount of people who have lost their jobs with a huge organization that you would assume can pay employees. But because of the protections under the CCAA, those employees are just last in line and effectively they often get nothing.”

Related Resources

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• Hudson’s Bay liquidates all but 6 stores