Login / RegisterIt's Black Thursday in Canada after Sears layoff announcement
It’s a Black Thursday for retail workers in Canada, with 1,600 of them getting layoff notices with their morning coffee.
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Struggling Sears Canada will lay off 700 workers nationwide, it announced in a news release Thursday (January 31).
More than half of those affected work in department stores, with the rest coming from distribution centres and head office, spokesman Vince Power said in a statement.
About 200 of the job losses will be split between Belleville, Ontario, and Regina, Saskatchewan, distribution centres, with similar operations in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver also taking hits. Department stores across the country should see a couple of cuts each.
"The reductions are spread pretty well across the country, as far as geography is concerned," Power said in an email. He said that the layoffs were part of an "initiative to right-size the organization".
The announcement came the same day that Best Buy and Future Shop announced the closure of 15 stores in Canada, including one in Surrey, with the total loss of 900 jobs.
Sears Canada, through majority owner Sears Holding Corp., operates more than 460 corporate department and local dealer stores nationwide, as well as numerous pick-up locations and showrooms.
The company, which is in the middle of a three-year restructuring plan, has been fighting slumping revenue as well as an aggressive expansion of Canadian presence by Wal-Mart and Target stores.
Target Corporation, which took over Canadian store sites previously operated by Zellers Inc., plans to open 125 stores in 2013 starting in March, with 18 located in British Columbia, including one in Metropolis at Metrotown. The retail giant runs 1,764 stores in the U.S.
Wal-Mart Canada announced on January 22 that it would expand its presence in this country by the end of January 2014 to 388 stores from 379 and invest about $450 million in new and existing projects.
Sears announced in January 2012 that it was closing in-house restaurants, with a loss of 400 jobs, and 480 Sears call-centre jobs got outsourced to the Philippines in early 2009.
In 2012, Sears sold back major stores in Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa to landlord Cadillac Fairview Corp Ltd., and CFO Sharon Driscoll announced her surprise resignation the day before Christmas just past.
The world has changed and not for the better in my view ,BUT life does go on, Good luck all.
Life will find a way... Good luck out there...
This is what its going to be like.
No such thing as retiring from the company you first started working for.
NEXT
if they sold clothes that werent so dumpy and only fit for a grandma, then maybe they would make some money.
The only thing I ever buy at Sears is underwear and appliances.
I have been "laid off" (fired is fired, actually)a couple of times.. and each time I was prompted to look outside my box, to expand my horizons, advance my education.. and the end result has always been better than what I had. I work in the same industry, but my role is significantly different that where I started... I continue to progress, continue to just get better at what I do... and btw, I am 62 yrs and still looking towards the future..and that future does not hold a rocking chair and knitting, I can promise you that.
Every conflict is a blessing in disguise..
Any Corporation like Sears has no loyalty or feel any obligation to any Employee profit and loss is the only driving factor much like a Crack Addict scounrging for their next hit.
Under the Law in Canada Employees are deemed to be 'Servants' & Severance is a Joke at 1 week per year or so.
Corporations often provide the minimum severance as they DEEM & Employees are left to go to Court to prove their Cases for more compensation.
In most cases Employees do not have the financial backing nor the time to go to Court even Small Claims nor the Legal knowledge.
Even if they can afford a Lawyer the small amount in extra Severance negates the economics so most do not go to Court, the Corporation gets off scott free!
Niether the Law nor Coporate 'Values' protect ordinary Canadian Citizens basic Human Righs to earn a living.
Therefore you should seriously reconsider your Employment regardless with a Small or Large Corporate Business.
Explore your own Business or work as a Freelancer at least you are better protected under Business to Business Contract Law.
DO NOT WORK YEARS FOR ANY CORPORATION its a waste of your LIFE!
The same brain washed HR employee also stated today that this layoff of many loyal employee's is good for the company as now we will see the sales grow and after all, she hastened to add, some of the poor folks let go may be happy to spend time with their families etc etc! Give me a break! Never mind that they have just lost their source of income, and any packages they may have been given don't last for ever!I am certain of the fact she will soon change her tune when it happens to her in the next 2 years or so! I can say this because I have worked for the company for 25 years and can see the writing on the wall!
My good wishes to all those who were let go yesterday and I sincerely hope that things work out for you all in the future!
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