Walmart closing Toronto tech hub, part of corporate layoffs: Report

What’s happening at Walmart?

Walmart is reportedly planning to shutter its technology hub in Toronto as it eliminates hundreds of corporate roles.

A source told The Toronto Star that the retail giant is working to improve collaboration among staff by bringing them together in fewer offices.

The exact number of employees ordered to relocate to the company’s tech hubs in the U.S. remains unclear.

SEE ALSO
• Can employers in Ontario force staff to relocate?
• What Albertans need to know about workplace relocations
• Can employees in British Columbia be forced to relocate?

In 2022, Walmart announced that it was opening one of its “larger” tech offices in Toronto — with the promise of creating hundreds of jobs over time.

The source added that staff at the company’s Canadian headquarters in Mississauga aren’t affected by the latest round of layoffs.

Termination agreements for Walmart Canada employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Walmart are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing, corporate restructuring, or the closure of the business.

This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

People 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.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains why you are still owed severance if you have been downsized on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Before accepting a 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’s offer falls short of what our Severance Pay Calculator says you are owed, it’s very likely that you have been wrongfully dismissed and should contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

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

LEARN MORE
• Severance pay for provincially regulated employees
• Rights to severance during mass layoffs
• Severance entitlements in a recession

Major layoffs continue

Walmart isn’t the only major employer scaling back its staffing levels in 2024.

Big names, including Bayer, Indeed, Xbox, Kenvue, Hudson’s Bay, Google, Whirlpool, SAP Canada, IBM Canada, Netflix, Best Buy, Intel, and Amazon, have also pulled out the axe as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Rogers cuts jobs in April, part of restructuring: Reports
• Kinaxis Layoffs: Alleged restructuring impacts 6% of workforce
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.