Several people claiming to be Bell employees shared in posts on Reddit that layoffs were happening ahead of the holiday season. One person wrote that Bell was laying off a large number of people from the “corporate side.” Another user said that Bell has pinned letters at primary office sites advising several “management employees” and business units will be impacted.
One Redditor shared that they know several people in marketing and customer operations positions who were let go, and another said even HR was impacted.
In a statement to MobileSyrup, Bell said:
“The changes to our team structure are a continuation of the overall restructuring that BCE announced earlier this year and there are no changes to the total number of impacted positions announced at that time. Like most organizations, in this ever-changing market, we regularly assess and make necessary changes to better align resources with long-term growth strategies and revenue expectations.”
Bell Layoffs 2024
2024 has been a rough year for Bell employees as the company has had multiple layoffs. In February, the company announced plans to cut 4,800 jobs. The layoffs also impacted journalists and the company selling 45 radio stations. The move sparked criticism from politicians, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling it a “garbage decision.”
Bell’s Acquisitions and Rebranding
Bell also set up a deal with The Source and Best Buy, which saw several stores rebranded as Best Buy Express. As part of that, Bell shuttered The Source headquarters and laid off employees.
Layoffs Hitting Expertech
In September, reports emerged of more Bell layoffs, potentially impacting hundreds of employees with Bell subsidiary Expertech, which installs network equipment. At the time, reports pointed to layoffs coming before the holidays. One Reddit user who posted in the recent thread about Bell layoffs claimed they worked for Expertech.
Bell’s Recent Acquisitions
The news of holiday layoffs comes after Bell announced it was acquiring U.S. fibre provider Ziply Fiber for $7 billion. Analysts called the move “perplexing,” and Bell’s stock dipped following the announcement.
What’s Next for Bell?
While the company insists that the total number of layoffs has not changed since earlier this year, employees seem to be feeling the impact of the restructuring. It remains to be seen what the long-term implications of these layoffs will be for Bell and its employees.
The company’s stock has dipped in recent months, and analysts are watching closely to see how the company’s restructuring will affect its bottom line. It remains to be seen whether the cuts will help Bell achieve its long-term growth strategy, or if it will lead to further instability in the company.
