Canada EXPLODES As Telecom GIANT ROGERS CUTS 10,000 Workers! THIS IS BAD!

Added: 2026-05-06

[00:00:00]Breaking news. Rogers is laying off 50% of its staff without saying that it's laying off 50% of its staff. Rogers Communications is looking to shed jobs, reportedly offering buyouts to half of its 25,000 employees.

[00:00:16]>> Rogers Communications is offering buyouts to 10,000 members of its workforce. The move is an attempt to cut spending. One of Canada's biggest telecom giants is making a move so drastic it's forcing thousands of families into uncertainty overnight.

[00:00:33]This isn't just another corporate headline. It's the kind of news that sends shock waves through an entire country. And the worst part, this could just be the beginning of something much bigger. So these buyouts from Rogers are being offered to about 10,000 employees.

[00:00:47]They are voluntary. On Monday afternoon, the company told CBC News in an email that some teams have chosen to offer these voluntary departure and retirement programs to give some employees the choice to decide whether they'd like to stay with the company or begin a new chapter. Today, we're breaking down a story that is rapidly escalating into a national concern. Reports have surfaced that Rogers, one of Canada's largest telecommunications companies, is cutting thousands of jobs in a sweeping move that has left employees, analysts, and everyday Canadians completely stunned.

[00:01:22]Now, while layoffs in big corporations definitely aren't unheard of, the scale and timing of this decision are what makes it deeply alarming. Let's put this into perspective. A company spokesperson told the Globe and Mail Rogers is taking steps to adjust its cost structure to reflect the business realities of the current environment. Some business units won't be eligible for the offer, including on air talent, Sportsnet employees, and union workers. Rogers isn't just any company. It's a pillar of Canada's telecom infrastructure. From mobile networks to internet services, millions of Canadians rely on it every single day.

[00:02:03]So, when a company of this magnitude starts cutting jobs in massive numbers, it raises serious questions. What's going on behind the scenes? And more importantly, what does this mean for the future of Canada's economy? According to these early reports, layoffs are just the part of a broader restructuring strategy, including in their internet, wireless, and cable divisions. But the sports and media sides, plus their unionized employees, are not included.

[00:02:31]Rogers, which employs nearly 25,000 people, benefits from substantial federal protections in the telecommunications field, but they alongside Bell and Telus control over 80% of the telco business in Canada. The company has pointed to rising operational costs, increasing competition, and the need to streamline efficiency as these key reasons behind the decision. But critics aren't buying the corporate language, and neither am I. Many are calling this what it really looks like is a costcutting measure designed to protect profits at the expense of workers. Now, here's where things start to get even more concerning. This comes at a time when Canadians are already dealing with rising inflation, higher interest rates, and an increasingly unstable job market.

[00:03:18]But even then, Rogers has long said that that side of the business is less lucrative compared to other ventures promising they would cut capital spending by roughly 30% this year, blaming government regulations. In a statement, Rogers told Global News they're taking steps to adjust their cost structure to reflect the current business environment. For thousands of employees to suddenly find themselves without income in this environment, it's not just bad timing, it's potentially devastating. And let's not forget the whole ripple effect. When a company like Rogers cuts jobs, the impact doesn't stop at those employees. It spreads.

[00:03:55]Local businesses lose customers.

[00:03:57]Families cut back on spending. Entire communities feel the strain. This is how a corporate decision quickly turns into a broader economic issue. Markets have generally been pleased with Rogers recent moves. their stocks up 40% year-over-year, and they made $438 million in the first quarter alone. In 2025, they added nearly a,000 new employees, largely due to becoming the majority owners of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors. They also own 100% of the Toronto Blue Jays, whose run to the World Series saw their media revenues substantially increase.

[00:04:33]But their media expenses are also going up big time with a new NHL national TV deal set to kick in next season costing 11 billion over 12 years. Jeff, but there's another layer to this story that deserves attention. Many analysts believe that this isn't just about Rogers. It's about a larger shift happening within the telecom industry itself. With advancements in automation, AIdriven systems, and digital infrastructure, companies are increasingly looking to reduce human labor costs. In simpler terms, machines are replacing people, and this could be a sign of what's coming next. Still, the question remains, why now?

[00:05:14]>> Say we're offered this type of package deal um at your current company, would you take it?

[00:05:19]>> Yeah, of course. That sounds sounds good. Sound really amazing. I will take it. 10,000 employees are getting laid off at Rogers. I think they took inspiration from tech companies, right?

[00:05:28]Like a lot of big multinational congate tech companies offered this compensation package to employees. I think if the severance is good and if the employee wants to leave, it's fine. I think it's a good will.

[00:05:40]>> Why such a massive move at this particular moment? Some insiders suggest that the company is under pressure following major acquisitions and financial commitments in recent years.

[00:05:51]integrating new operations, managing debt, and maintaining shareholder expectations could all be playing a role here. And if that's true, then these layoffs might be less about necessity and more about balancing the books.

[00:06:05]Public reaction has been swift and intense. Social media is flooded with anger and frustration and fear. I >> think it's bad. Yeah, it's very shocking. It's horrible. You know, I hope it gets resolved quickly. If you were in that situation, how would you feel? Or would you take the package deal?

[00:06:22]>> I would feel like honestly.

[00:06:24]Sorry for the cussing. I would feel so bad about that. I can't imagine what people are going through. It's scary like like for your future too. Like it's hard to get jobs like now like like as it is. Employees are sharing their stories. Many of them are have been blindsided by the announcement. Some claim they received little to no warning while others say that they were actually assured job security just a couple months ago. If these accounts are accurate, it raises serious concerns about transparency and corporate responsibility. Meanwhile, government officials are starting to take notice.

[00:06:58]There are growing calls for accountability with some demanding investigations into how such large-scale layoffs are handled. Shares of the stock closed up to 49.85 by end of day Monday, a 1.2% increase from the close last Friday. Remember, the only job security is financial security. Everything else is an illusion. Doesn't matter how big the company is, how many people they employ, nothing. The only job security is financial security. Others are pushing for stronger protections for workers, arguing that companies benefiting from Canadian markets should have a greater obligation to their employees. But here's the uncomfortable truth. The situation might not be unique. If a major player like Rogers is making cuts at this level, it could signal trouble across the entire sector.

[00:07:49]Other telecom companies could follow suit, leading to a wave of layoffs that would amplify the impact even further.

[00:07:55]>> The headline today, all right, the headline I I forgot about that as well.

[00:07:59]of the headline. The headline says Rogers shake out 10,000 jobs on the line as telecom giants rewrites its future.

[00:08:13]Huh?

[00:08:15]It's going to be weird.

[00:08:17]>> And for everyday Canadians, this creates a sense of uncertainty that's pretty hard to ignore. If stable, high-paying jobs and major corporations are no longer secure, then what is? This is the kind of question that shakes confidence not just in a company but in the system as a whole. As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear. This is more than just corporate restructuring. We can all see that it's a moment that could redefine job security, corporate responsibility, and economic stability in Canada.

[00:08:48]>> The Trump administration is moving to its next phase of downsizing federal agencies. They're offering employees two options. one, early retirement, or two, a one-time lumpsum payment, also known as a buyout. Now, this is different than the offer the Trump administration made a couple months ago where they were offering something called the fork in the road or deferred resignation.

[00:09:10]>> And if the early signs are anything to go by, the fallout from this decision is only the beginning. Now, as we continue, the deeper we look into this situation, the more complicated and frankly more troubling it becomes because what initially appeared to be a standard round of corporate layoffs is now revealing signs of something much bigger happening beneath the surface. And if you're watching closely, the warning signs are pretty hard to ignore. Let's start with what insiders are quietly saying.

[00:09:40]Federal sector employment lawyers were concerned about it because they didn't know if the Trump administration would hold up their side of the deal. This time we're seeing the Trump administration offer options that are enshrined in law and that are more established. Now, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs are both offering that at this point and we're expecting more agencies in the coming days to do the same. While the official explanation focuses on efficiency and restructuring, several reports suggest that internal pressures have been building for quite some time. Rising debt levels, massive infrastructure investments, and the long-term financial impacts of previous acquisitions are all believed to be weighing heavily on the company. In simple terms, this may not be just a strategic move. It could actually be a necessary one to stabilize their finances. But here's where it gets even more serious. So, just to give some context here, earlier this year, the company had said in earnings reports and annual reports that it had 25,000 employees. So, by that count, these offers going out to around 10,000 workers mean it's probably going out to about 40% of the Rogers workforce. Now, the company has said not everyone at Rogers will be eligible for these voluntary buyouts. When companies begin cutting jobs at this scale to manage financial strain, it often indicates that cost pressures are reaching a critical point. And if that's the case, then these layoffs might not be the end.

[00:11:06]They could just be the first wave. That possibility alone is enough to send shock waves through employees who are still holding on to their positions, unsure if they might be next. At the same time, there's growing concern about how these layoffs are being executed. on air talent in the media divisions, unionized workers, they're not included.

[00:11:27]Neither are the Toronto Blue Jays for that matter. Sarah >> Anise, what are the possible reasons? I mean, we're talking about a lot of employees here. Rogers is is trying to shed so many of them.

[00:11:39]>> To be clear, we don't know how many workers Rogers intends to actually eliminate here or how many positions it may want to see vacant. former employees have started speaking out describing abrupt terminations, limited severance clarity, and a lack of communication from management. Now, whether every claim is accurate or not, the pattern is raising eyebrows because in moments like this, how a company treats its workforce matters just as much as the decision itself. And then there's the public trust factor. Telecom companies are not just private businesses. They operate as essential service providers.

[00:12:17]>> Rogers has said though it wants to adjust its costs because of current business realities and we can see some clues as to what those are in in the company's recent earnings reports. Just last week, Rogers announced it planned to scale back capital spending and and by a lot around a billion dollars less than earlier plans had indicated.

[00:12:37]Millions depend on them daily, not just for convenience, but for basic communication, work, and even emergency access. So when a major player starts cutting large portions of its workforce, people naturally begin to question whether service quality could eventually be affected. I mean, just think about it. Fewer employees can mean slower customer support, delayed maintenance, and increased pressure on the remaining workforce. And that just creates a domino effect inside the company.

[00:13:06]Burnout rises, morale drops, and productivity can start to slip. The company's blaming several factors, including government regulation, aggressive discounting, slowing down telecom revenue. That all means, you know, less revenue, less money for Rogers. It's a cycle that has played out in multiple industries before, and many are now wondering if telecom could be next. But let's shift to this broader focus on the economic picture. Canada, like many countries, is already navigating a fragile financial environment. Inflation has stretched household budgets. Interest rates have made borrowing more expensive, and job security is becoming less predictable across multiple sectors. And that kind of climate, large-scale layoffs don't just hurt individuals, they add pressure to an already strained system. It also refinanced billions of dollars worth of debt just a few weeks ago. So, I should say financial analysts aren't pointing to Rogers as being in trouble right now, but its businesses are pricey, right?

[00:14:08]Cell phones, cable, TV, sports, these are expensive categories to keep going.

[00:14:14]And so, while it's really unclear how many people the company expects or hopes will take up an offer to quit their jobs, the idea is that if they can minimize the amount that they spend on the workforce, they might be able to free up some cash flow for later.

[00:14:28]Because when thousands of people lose their jobs, consumer spending drops. And when spending drops, businesses across different industries start to feel the impact. Retail slows down, services take a hit, and economic momentum weakens.

[00:14:44]This is how one corporate decision can ripple outward and affect an entire economy. Another critical angle here is the role of technology. As companies continue investing in automation and digital systems, the need for certain roles is rapidly declining. While these offers have gone out to 10,000 workers or around 10,000 workers, we don't know how many in the end will accept the offer and how many Rogers will want to see accept the offer, but it's it's an eye popping amount. You know, 10,000 people getting an offer to potentially involuntarily leave their jobs. Tasks that once required large teams can now be handled by advanced software and streamlined processes. While this improves efficiency, it also raises a difficult question. What happens to the workforce that gets left behind? This is where the conversation becomes uncomfortable because while companies push forward in the name of innovation, workers are the ones absorbing the consequences. And without proper transition plans, retraining programs, or support systems, many individuals are left scrambling to adapt in an increasingly competitive job market.

[00:15:52]This typically happens in the market, by the way. A company says, "Hey, we're laying off lots of people, so that's going to mean lower costs." And they're actually just offering buyouts to everybody. We're going to get into the finer details in a minute, but essentially it's like asking 50% of your workforce, hey, do you want to take a layoff? Do you want to lose your job?

[00:16:14]That's essentially what they're asking.

[00:16:16]Meanwhile, industry analysts are closely watching how competitors respond. If other telecom giants begin adopting similar strategies, it could confirm that this isn't an isolated event, but part of a wider industry shift. And if that happens, the scale of impact could grow far beyond what we're seeing right now. There's also mounting pressure on policymakers to step in. Some experts are calling for stricter labor protections. Others are pushing for more oversight when it comes to large corporate restructuring decisions. And it shows the business environment. Even the CEO is saying it. He puts it bluntly as well. So, the stock is up on that news, which is absolutely hilarious. You have it here reported in the Global Mail. Rogers Communications offering buyouts to half of its workforce. To those of you that don't know, Rogers is a telecom giant in Canada. It's one of the major oligopy companies like Telus and Bell and many other companies.

[00:17:23]There's not many actually in the telecom space, let's face it. It's just an oligopy.

[00:17:28]>> The argument is simple. If companies hold significant influence over national infrastructure, then their actions should come with a higher level of accountability. But whether or not immediate action is taken remains uncertain. Government responses often take time. And in situations like this, time is something affected workers simply don't have. Bills still need to be paid. Families still need support.

[00:17:53]And uncertainty continues to grow with each passing day.

[00:17:56]>> We already know from the state of the government finances, which I'll just give you a preview here. They don't look good. They do not look good. So, I mean, yeah, this is just the state of Canada right now. Rogers Communications, Inc.

[00:18:12]is offering voluntary departure packages to 50% of its employees. The largest round of buyout offers in the sector in recent years as telecom revenue growth has slowed across the industry and companies look to shed costs. Rogers has 25,000 employees, or at least it did at the end of 2025. So, where does this leave us? Well, at a crossroads really.

[00:18:36]On one side, you have corporate evolution companies adapting, cutting costs, and preparing for the future. On the other side, you have a human impact on real people facing sudden job loss and an unpredictable road ahead. And right now, those two forces are colliding in a very visible, very serious way.

[00:18:56]>> And this is what they said here. So they said right here, we are taking steps to adjust our cost structure to reflect the business realities of the current environment. I thought the business realities were fantastic. Everything is going great. We're making all these investments. You're going to get this benefit. We're not printing money. We are printing money, but we're not going to tell you about that. As this story develops, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. This isn't just about one company or one round of layoffs. It's about a shift in how businesses operate, how workers are valued, and how companies respond under pressure. And depending on what happens next, this could either be a temporary shock or the start of a much larger transformation.