BCE, a major Canadian corporation that owns Bell, has terminated several employees for breaching workplace attendance and remote work policies. However, allegations have surfaced suggesting that the firings were unjust and aimed at avoiding severance payments. In an internal email obtained by CBC News, Bell’s chief human resources officer Nikki Moffat stated that the dismissed employees were misrepresenting their presence at work. Despite this claim, former employees have refuted these allegations on social media and in discussions with CBC News.
Bell also accused some terminated employees of “swiping in and leaving shortly after,” as mentioned in Moffat’s communication. However, individuals contacted by CBC News, along with lawyer Jean-Alexandre De Bousquet representing over 30 terminated Bell workers, have disputed these claims. De Bousquet mentioned that many of his clients had never physically worked in the office, even predating the pandemic, challenging Bell’s assertions.
While Bell refutes the claim of hundreds of terminations, stating only a “small number” of employees were let go, De Bousquet believes that there could be a significant number of affected individuals. He highlighted that many workers were terminated without prior warnings or suspensions, attributing the firings to economic motives with the company using alleged misconduct as a reason to avoid paying severance.
Bell countered these allegations by stating that the terminations were based on clear violations of the company’s code of conduct. The company emphasized that thorough investigations were conducted, and individuals were provided evidence of their alleged misconduct before termination. Additionally, Bell clarified that managers condoning the mentioned activities were also terminated.
These terminations coincide with Bell’s recent job cuts in late 2025, aiming to reduce debt and enhance growth. Despite a recent increase in operating revenue, driven partly by AI services, Bell has been enforcing attendance policies as employees transition back to the office post-pandemic. The situation with Bell underscores the ongoing debates surrounding remote work policies, with legal experts emphasizing the importance of evidence and due process in such employment matters.
