Dell Canada is putting its Canadian expansion plans in reverse as it lays off staff at its call centre in Ottawa, according to a report from the Canadian Press on Wednesday.
The troubled computer maker, which had announced plans to double the size of the call centre about a year ago from 1,500 to 3,000 people, has not specified a particular number of job cuts, Canadian Press said. The company has committed to a 10 per cent worldwide reduction of its workforce, however.
Dell has done a lot to promote its call centre, including a visit from company chairman Michael Dell last year and a meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Dell had even gone so far as to build a new 150,000 sq. ft. building to accommodate its growing Canadian staff, but it will remain empty. Dell Canadian headquarters is in Toronto but it also has offices in Montreal and Edmonton.