Walmart trimming corporate workforce, Canadians reportedly affected

What’s happening at Walmart?

Walmart is reportedly eliminating hundreds of corporate positions as it grapples with slowing growth.

According to The Toronto Star, the retail giant is also planning to close its tech hub in Toronto and relocate certain employees to the U.S.

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• 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?

The development comes as the company prepares to open a new campus at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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 what rights employees have if they are being fired or let go 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

Reports of job cuts at Walmart come amid a flurry of layoffs in 2024.

Big names, including Xbox, Kenvue, Hudson’s Bay, Google, Whirlpool, SAP Canada, IBM Canada, Netflix, Best Buy, Relic Entertainment, Intel, and Amazon, have 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.