Employment Law

Telus Layoffs 2025: Employee Rights and Severance Pay Guide

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Telus has confirmed another round of workforce reductions across Canada, continuing a multi-year restructuring effort that has eliminated thousands of jobs since 2023.

700 Voluntary Severance Packages Announced in February 2025

In February 2025, the Vancouver-based telecom offered voluntary severance packages to approximately 700 employees nationwide, including management-level staff (CityNews). The move was framed as part of a broader push to streamline operations amid economic headwinds, advancing technology, and ongoing digital transformation initiatives.

The latest cuts affected teams across network operations, engineering, outside plant construction, and business solutions, with many impacted employees based in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Thousands of Jobs Lost Through 2023 and 2024

According to The Globe and Mail, Telus reduced its total workforce by 3,300 jobs in 2024 — roughly a 10% drop — citing automation, artificial intelligence, and technological efficiencies as primary drivers. These reductions followed 6,000 job cuts in 2023 (CBC News), underscoring a consistent pattern of downsizing across the Canadian telecom sector.

Telus spokesperson Liz Sauvé said the company’s workforce adjustments were “based on continued technology and digital transformations in key areas of our business and advancements in AI, and in response to the continued regulatory, economic and competitive headwinds the telecom industry is facing as a whole.”

In May 2025, Telus acquired Workplace Options for $500 million. In 2022, Telus bought LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) for $2.3 billion.


Severance Pay for Telus Layoffs in Canada

If you’re a non-unionized Telus employee, you may be entitled to up to 24 months’ pay as severance in Canada when you are let go.

How Severance is Calculated

Several factors determine what you’re owed, including:

  • Age
  • Length of service
  • Position or seniority
  • Ability to find similar work (job market conditions)

What a Fair Package Should Include

A proper and fair severance package at Telus must cover:

  • Salary
  • Bonuses & commissions
  • Benefits & pension contributions
  • RSUs, stock options, incentive pay
  • Vacation pay & allowances
⚠️ Warning: Telus’ initial offer may only reflect minimum standards, not your full common law rights. Many employees are owed significantly more than what’s first put on the table.

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Not Always Called a Layoff

Sometimes Telus (and other large employers) avoid calling it a layoff by cutting pay, reducing responsibilities, or reassigning employees. In Canada, these changes may qualify as constructive dismissal — which is legally treated the same as a termination and may entitle you to full severance pay.

📌 Don’t Sign Anything! Talk to an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP first before accepting an offer — you may be entitled to months of additional pay.

Severance Success Stories – Our Track Record

We’ve negotiated significant results for employees at major corporations, including:

  • ✅ 24 months’ severance for a long-term professional after refusing unfair new terms post-acquisition. See our win →
  • 6 months’ severance for a short-term executive pressured to sign an unfair release after termination. See our win →
  • 4 months’ severance for an employee terminated after just eight months in a senior role. See our win →
At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we’ve also secured similar results for our Telus clients, ensuring all factors were included in their severance.

Our clients are often surprised by how much they’re legally owed after being wrongfully dismissed — and legal fees are often covered by the employer.


FAQs on Telus Layoffs

👉 Do Telus Employees Get Severance Pay in Canada?
Yes. If you’re a non-unionized Telus employee in Canada, you may be entitled to up to 24 months’ pay as severance when you are let go. The amount depends on factors like age, position, length of service, and how easy it will be to find a similar job.

👉 Are Telus Layoffs Legal in Canada?
Yes — but the law requires that affected non-unionized employees receive proper severance pay. If Telus only offers the minimum under federal legislation, you could be owed significantly more compensation under common law.

👉 Can Telus Call it Something Other Than a Layoff?
Sometimes. Instead of a direct termination, Telus may reduce hours, cut pay, relocate staff, or change responsibilities. In Canada, those changes may amount to constructive dismissal, which is legally treated the same as being fired — and you may still be owed severance.

👉 How Long Do I Have to Claim Severance After a Telus Layoff?
You have up to two years from your termination date to pursue severance pay through legal action in Canada.

👉 Can I Be Laid Off by Telus While on Maternity or Disability Leave?
No. In Canada, it’s illegal and discriminatory for Telus (or any employer) to terminate your job while you’re on a protected leave.

👉 Do Contractors at Telus Qualify for Severance?
Yes — if you were misclassified as a contractor but worked like an employee, you may still be entitled to severance pay.

Speak to an Employment Lawyer About Telus Layoffs

If you’ve been impacted by Telus layoffs in Canada, don’t sign anything before seeking legal advice.

🛡️ We Know Severance
Our employment lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and BC help non-unionized staff — including Telus employees — win fair severance. Many cases qualify for our no win, no fee contingency arrangement.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we:

  • 👥 Represented 50,000+ Canadians
  • 💰 Secured millions in severance payouts
  • ⚖️ Settle over 99% of cases out of court
  • ⭐ Earned 3,000+ 5-star Google reviews
  • 🏆 Named one of Canada’s Best Law Firms

📞 Call us at 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

⚠️ Unionized?
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