OSEG Severance Packages Extremely Concerning

Severance Pay for OSEG Employees

Reported severance packages for employees laid off by Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) fall far short of what they are actually owed in a COVID-19 landscape, says employment law firm Samfiru Tumarkin LLP in Ottawa.

OSEG has laid off 40% of its operations staff in response to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on its business. A memo obtained by media says that employees will be provided two months of severance pay, covering the months of October and November.

“2 months’ salary continuation is not going to be nearly enough severance for the vast majority of these employees, particularly those with specializations in hospitality or entertainment who, due to covid-19, will likely go several months if not years unemployed,” said Ottawa employment lawyer Alex Lucifero, partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

“On the surface, this severance offer from OSEG fails to account for additional factors that are unique to each employee. It is extremely important for those individuals who have been laid off by the company to seek legal advice before accepting a severance offer, so that they can ensure that they will have financial support during the difficult months that lie ahead.”

Severance pay in Ontario is based on a number of factors, including age, position, salary and years of service with an employer.