Shaw to close YYC call center

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by nik-

You'd be excited to have to transfer across the country for a job that probably pays less than 50k a year?

sure, if I was young and single. Actually I'd probably do it anyways.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by nik-

You'd be excited to have to transfer across the country for a job that probably pays less than 50k a year?

If someone said "Hey, we'll help you with $7,500 of your moving expenses to travel to one of the following cities" and you really liked one of those cities, why wouldn't you?

For the most part, the barrier for people moving to a city they want to is the expense of moving and not having a job there.

[ZedMan]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

If someone said "Hey, we'll help you with $7,500 of your moving expenses to travel to one of the following cities" and you really liked one of those cities, why wouldn't you?

For the most part, the barrier for people moving to a city they want to is the expense of moving and not having a job there.

From personal experience, $7500 is pretty low for relocation (depending on the distance, but say from here to Montreal). Don't forget that a large chunk of that is going to be used up as a tax gross-up.

[wooohooo]

Yeah I really wouldn't cry if my company wanted to move me to any of those cities minus Winnipeg and gave me money for it.

Not sure what the big back lash is here, seems to be fairly generous offer from Shaw. Or maybe we have just been too spoiled from oil and gas

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by heep223

The company may be public but the Shaw family is still the majority owner. So they can do what they want. Why would you guys care? Don't buy their stock if that's how you feel.

The shaw family doesn't own the majority of Shaw, they own the the majority of the voting shares. The economic value of the business mostly belongs to the public shareholders. So basically, they're screwing their employees and the other shareholders by spending by overpaying family members and covering their personal expenses. Unless of course anyone thinks Telus is likely to start poaching Shaw family members for $5MM each.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The shaw family doesn't own the majority of Shaw, they own the the majority of the voting shares.

Technicality. They control the business. It's a company with poor governance.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Yeah I really wouldn't cry if my company wanted to move me to any of those cities minus Winnipeg and gave me money for it.

Not sure what the big back lash is here, seems to be fairly generous offer from Shaw. Or maybe we have just been too spoiled from oil and gas

My girlfriend is one of the folks affected by this. It's a real kick in the pants for her, and we are hoping that she is able to stay with Shaw (she had been looking at shifting even before today)

The offer for folks is fairly generous on the face of it, but I don't know how many people will actually move provinces for a job that is not in most cases a 'career job', and one that pays (for most of the jobs) under 40K a year if you have full time work, and which for many of the affected was part time yet still not bad paying work they could juggle school or another job around. I do understand the reasoning, but it is quite unfortunate.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Julio

My girlfriend is one of the folks affected by this. It's a real kick in the pants for her, and we are hoping that she is able to stay with Shaw (she had been looking at shifting even before today)

The offer for folks is fairly generous on the face of it, but I don't know how many people will actually move provinces for a job that is not in most cases a 'career job', and one that pays (for most of the jobs) under 40K a year if you have full time work, and which for many of the affected was part time yet still not bad paying work they could juggle school or another job around. I do understand the reasoning, but it is quite unfortunate.

What does shifting mean? job hunting?

[Julio]

Shifting (or changing) positions within the same company...

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by Julio

My girlfriend is one of the folks affected by this. It's a real kick in the pants for her, and we are hoping that she is able to stay with Shaw (she had been looking at shifting even before today)

The offer for folks is fairly generous on the face of it, but I don't know how many people will actually move provinces for a job that is not in most cases a 'career job', and one that pays (for most of the jobs) under 40K a year if you have full time work, and which for many of the affected was part time yet still not bad paying work they could juggle school or another job around. I do understand the reasoning, but it is quite unfortunate.

Yeah I guess that does suck, especially if you're in a relationship or have a family. But it seems they are offering other positions at shaw and even a pretty decent severence package. Take the severence and go to telus Haha

[Codes]

My mom works for Shaw in Kelowna, and is fortunately unaffected by this round of cuts. She was let go the last time they restructured, came back as a contractor, and just recently earned a full time position.

Here's to hoping many of these people can land back on their feet like my mom was fortunately able to.

Julio, what your girlfriend described is exactly how my mom felt at the time. Felt like it was a place she could work at and enjoy until she was in a better position to dial down into a more retired lifestyle. Then BAM! No indication. Just let go. I hope your girlfriend has a positive resolution.

Have to say, that company seems to be run out of left field.

[Vox]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

Brutal. What the hell are they going to fill the Barlow building with?

Those buildings will still be bursting at the seams. They are way too full right now.

[MelBridgeman]

For the two boys and father JR Shaw, the company faces a future retirement bill of some $147 million, according to its own actuaries. The amount these three men have paid into this plan: zero. The amount the company has set aside for the liability: zero

make those cuts!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Codes

Have to say, that company seems to be run out of left field.

No, it's just unabashed nepotism.

[calgarywinning]

Even more reason to move on from a company I have been loyal to for many years.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

All this outrage over customer service center jobs.... do people know how many high paying head office jobs Hunter Harrison has moved from Calgary to low cost Winnipeg and Minneapolis at CP Rail? Hundreds - where's the pitchforks and torches for that fat cat?

If people knew this figure there'd be a lot more outrage, but CP has done a good job of keeping it on the down low.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

All this outrage over customer service center jobs.... do people know how many high paying head office jobs Hunter Harrison has moved from Calgary to low cost Winnipeg and Minneapolis at CP Rail? Hundreds - where's the pitchforks and torches for that fat cat?

If people knew this figure there'd be a lot more outrage, but CP has done a good job of keeping it on the down low.

I think anyone that was watching HH and his takeover of CP knew he'd be slashing costs and jobs everywhere he could once he had the power. So it's less a matter of them keeping it on the down low then people knowing it was going to happen once he was in.

[Ducay]

I'm always amazed when people are angry/surprised when companies move low value functions out of Calgary (probably second most expensive after Ft Mac). Its not just a reflection on our high cost, but our development as an economy away from menial jobs like that.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

Brutal. What the hell are they going to fill the Barlow building with?

I assume that they will not be renewing leases at some of the other properties in town, (Scotia Centre is a big one for us) and moving them into the Barlow building. I can't see their flagship building staying empty.

[corporatejay]

I totally understand this move. Wages in Alberta are out of control and like Firefly said, attrition is massive. People generally don't care because "they can find a job the next day". This will go to municipal centre in need of more entry level positions.