With former Sears Canada employees left wondering what’s next in their career path following the company’s decision last month to close 59 stores and cut approximately 2,900 jobs, the province of Nova Scotia says it’s hoping to provide a bit of relief.
The province said on Friday it will hold information sessions next week at Nova Scotia Work Centres for employees to learn about different services and supports they can access.
READ MORE: Sears Canada slashing about 2,900 jobs, closing 59 locations across country
Towards the end of June, the company announced it was cutting jobs and closing stores under a court-supervised restructuring. The announcement came after the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted the department store chain temporary creditor protection.
Get breaking National news
As a result of the restructuring, approximately 500 office positions were eliminated immediately, with the rest to come as stores closed.
READ MORE: What Sears Canada’s case says about how safe your retirement benefits are
Since the announcement, court filings revealed the employees laid off would not receive severance packages and retirees could lose all their benefits. And as of Thursday, the store was seeking court permission to suspend some payments to its employee pension plan and other retirement benefits.
Lisa Jarrett, spokesperson for the province’s Department of Labour and Advanced Education, said transition teams have been assembled in Halifax, Dartmouth and Truro and they’ll be working with both Sears Canada and workers to help them going forward.
The sessions are being held at Nova Scotia Works Centres in the following locations:
- July 11 at 9 a.m. at Job Junction, 6950 Mumford Rd. in Halifax
- July 11 at 10 a.m. at the YMCA Employment Centre, 5 Cumberland Dr. in Cole Harbour
- July 12 at 1 p.m. in Truro at Futurworx, 42 Inglis St.
- 9 a.m. on July 13 at Futurworx
READ MORE: 2,900 Sears Canada employees won’t receive severance after layoff
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.