Simmons Foods closing Mississauga plant, laying off 200

Major pet food producer Simmons Foods is closing its Mississauga plant in November and laying off nearly 200 employees, the company announced in a release posted to its website.

The “strategic decision” will “further centralize production and distribution to better serve customers,” the company said.

Employees working at the Streetsville facility, originally opened in 1979 under the Menu Pet Foods name before it was purchased by Simmons in 2010, learned of the closure on March 27. The plant will reportedly close on November 29, 2024.

Production shifts south

Simmons Pet Food says that it has “invested aggressively in expanding capacity and capabilities in Emporia, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa.”

“The Streetsville location has been an important part of our company’s history. We are deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication of all our team members in Streetsville,” Simmons Pet Food CEO Scott Salmon said in the statement.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP is currently assessing the severance offers made to impacted employees to ensure their legal rights to compensation are fully honoured.

Severance rights for impacted Simmons Foods employees

If you’re a non-unionized employee at Simmons Foods in Canada, and your are losing your job as a result of the closure, you are entitled to a full severance package. This rule applies to all non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C., whether you work full-time, part-time, or on an hourly basis.

Even when a facility or company closes (but does not declare bankruptcy), the employer still owes their employees full severance pay.

LEARN MORE
• Severance Pay in Ontario
• Alberta severance packages
• Understanding severance in B.C.

Individuals 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.

Calculating your severance pay

Your severance package is based on several factors. These include your length of service at the company, age, position and responsibilities, any bonuses or benefits you receive, and how difficult it is to find new employment.

The amount of notice you receive, or how far in advance your employer tells you about your termination, is also a key factor in understanding how much money you should receive.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay. It’s essential to note that the specific amount can also vary based on the terms of your employment contract.

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.

Don’t sign on the dotted line!

Before you accept any 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 doesn’t provide you with the correct amount, it’s very likely that you have been wrongfully dismissed, and should contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. Do not sign any deadline offer from your employer until you have spoken to our team. Once you sign back the offer, you lose your right to negotiate a fair package.

Non-unionized employees in Canada have up to two years from the date of their dismissal to pursue proper severance pay.

LEARN MORE
• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Rights to severance for tech sector staff
• Severance packages during mass layoffs

Talk to an employment lawyer

Lost your job at Simmons Foods? Contact our team immediately.

The knowledgeable team of employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has secured proper compensation for tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals across the country.

In addition to severance package negotiations, our lawyers have experience securing solutions for the following legal matters:

If you are a non-unionized employee in Ontario, Alberta, or B.C. who needs help with an employment issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need, and the compensation you deserve.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and should not be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer.