Telus Layoffs 2026: Employee Rights and Severance Pay Guide

Telus is kicking off 2026 by offering voluntary severance packages to approximately 700 employees in its Business Solutions unit — 200 of which are non-unionized. (The Globe and Mail)

The latest round of job cuts reportedly affects staff in several provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia (BC).

Michael Phillips, president of United Steelworkers Local 1944, claims that affected staff have until Jan. 21 to make a decision.

In a statement, Telus spokesperson Richard Gilhooley said the offers are part of “the same voluntary separation program” that the Vancouver-based telecom giant implemented in 2025. (CityNews).

Thousands of Jobs Lost Through 2023-2024

According to reports, Telus reduced its total workforce by 3,300 jobs in 2024 — roughly a 10% drop — citing automation, artificial intelligence (AI), 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

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.

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 →

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

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.

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.