Manitoba Hydro reaches 95% of target for employee volunteer buyouts

WINNIPEG — Manitoba Hydro says 857 employees applied for buyouts as part of it’s restructuring plan.

In February, the crown corporation announced it was looking to reduce its workforce by 900 people, and would begin by offering voluntary buyouts.

READ MORE: Voluntary buyouts being offered to Manitoba Hydro employees

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Around 857 staff applied for the voluntary departure program and Manitoba Hydro says 818 of those have been approved, which is around 95 per cent of the target.

Hydro said some applications were rejected as it needs to keep “appropriate staffing levels” in all areas to manage its operations.

“We are very pleased with this result as it goes a long way towards meeting our objectives,” Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Bruce Owen stated in an email.

About 30 per cent of employees taking the buyouts will leave by June, the remainder will leave sometime in 2018.