Telus Corp. has rolled out a new wave of voluntary separation offers to nearly 700 employees across Canada as part of a broader shift in its business toward automated and self-serve customer solutions. The buyouts affect staff in the company’s Business Solutions division in provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, with workers given a deadline in late January to decide whether to accept the financial package.

The latest offers are part of the same voluntary separation programme Telus began in 2025, reflecting management’s strategy to modernize operations and reduce its reliance on traditional roles as digital tools and customer self-service options become more prevalent. The company has described the packages as “generous voluntary financial offers” that exceed legal minimums and give eligible employees the option to retire or pursue a new career outside the organization. Telus also stated that it may limit the number of departures if too many employees opt in.

Unions representing many of the affected workers, including the United Steelworkers Local 1944, have strongly criticised the move. They argue that continued workforce reductions will hurt communities and weaken service quality at a time when customers report ongoing dissatisfaction with telecommunications experiences. Some union leaders contend that job cuts are contributing to a broader decline in service standards and are concerned about the long-term implications for Canada’s telecom sector.

This is not the first round of buyouts Telus has offered. The company has previously extended similar voluntary departure packages in both 2024 and 2025 as it continues to realign its workforce with its evolving business model. Industry observers note that the company’s digital transformation efforts — including investment in automated customer interfaces, AI-driven support and other self-serve technologies — have reduced the need for as many traditional roles.

Also Read: Stock investment Canada for beginners

Critics of the buyout programme point out that repeated workforce reductions, even when voluntary, can have broader social and economic effects. Some oppose the outsourcing of roles and worry that job losses will be replaced with lower-cost contracted or offshore labour, potentially eroding local employment and expertise over time. These concerns have been raised by labour groups in earlier buyout rounds and reflect anxiety about Canada’s industrial employment base in key service sectors.

Also Read: Safe investments for new investors

Telus maintains that workforce adjustments are standard practice in response to changing industry demands and customer behaviour, and that the voluntary separation options provide flexibility for employees contemplating retirement or career changes. The outcome of the latest offer will depend in part on how many employees choose to take the buyout, but the announcement underscores a continuing trend toward automation and structural evolution in telecommunications services.