Canadian telecommunications giant BCE, the parent company of Bell, has terminated multiple employees for breaching workplace attendance and remote work policies. However, allegations have surfaced suggesting that the dismissals were unjust and aimed at circumventing severance payments.
According to an internal email obtained by CBC News, Bell’s chief human resources officer Nikki Moffat stated that the terminated employees were allegedly “misrepresenting their presence in the workplace.” Nevertheless, former employees who have been let go have refuted these claims on social media and in discussions with CBC News.
In addition to the accusations of deceptive workplace presence, Bell has alleged that some terminated employees were observed “swiping in and leaving shortly after,” as mentioned in Moffat’s communication.
Contradicting Bell’s assertions, employees in contact with CBC News and Jean-Alexandre De Bousquet, a lawyer representing over 30 terminated Bell workers, have contested these claims. De Bousquet mentioned that many of the individuals in question had never physically worked in the office, even predating the pandemic.
Bell has disputed the claim that hundreds of employees were terminated, contending that the actual number is significantly lower. While the company did not disclose specific figures or names of affected individuals, they stated that only a “small number” of employees were let go.
De Bousquet and his clients have argued that they were terminated without prior warnings or suspensions and believe that Bell terminated them for economic reasons, using alleged misconduct as a pretext to avoid paying severance.
Bell countered these allegations by asserting that the terminations were a result of “clear violations” of the company’s code of conduct. Bell spokesperson Luc Levasseur emphasized that thorough investigations were conducted in each case, with individuals being presented with evidence of their alleged misconduct.
Despite denying economic motives for the terminations, these events follow Bell Canada’s layoffs of 650 management positions and 40 news division roles in late 2025, as part of efforts to reduce debt and foster growth.
Recent financial reports indicate mixed performance for Bell, with a decrease in profits at parent company BCE. While operating revenue saw a modest increase, driven partly by growth in AI services, traditional services like phone and TV experienced declines.
The strict enforcement of attendance policies coincides with the return of white-collar workers to offices nationwide post-pandemic. Public servants in Ontario and Alberta have transitioned back to the office, aligning with similar moves by major Canadian banks and federal public service executives.
Toronto employment lawyer Sundeep Gokhale highlighted the sensitivity of disputes over work-from-home policies, emphasizing that employers typically have the authority to determine employees’ work locations, unless specified otherwise in contracts or accommodations are necessary.
Gokhale explained that firing employees for just cause, without severance, is a stringent requirement, usually reserved for serious offenses like theft or fraud. The situation at Bell is expected to hinge on the evidence in each individual case.