Shaw Offers Buyouts to Workers After Shifting Focus to Wireless

(Bloomberg) -- Shaw Communications Inc., the Canadian telecommunications company, offered buyouts to about 6,500 employees.

The company expects about 10 percent to take the voluntary package before the offer expires Feb. 14, according to a statement. In its latest annual report, Shaw said it had about 14,000 workers. Canada’s Business News Network said the company was looking to eliminate 2,000 jobs, citing an internal email.

Shaw is trying to reinvent itself as a internet and wireless company able to compete with the nation’s top three carriers. In the past few years, it’s sold its media unit to Corus Entertainment and data service business to Peak 10 Holding Corp., while adding Wind Mobile Corp. to add wireless to its offerings.

“As good as our customer service and operations are today, we see that we have to make some significant changes to serve customers the way they expect to be served,” President Jay Mehr said in the statement.

Shaw said it’s refocusing operations toward providing service more easily through online and smartphone apps, as well as more self-installed services.

The stock rose 0.7 percent to C$26.93 as of 1:48 p.m. in Toronto. It rose 6.5 percent last year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jessica Brice in Sao Paulo at jbrice1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Crayton Harrison at tharrison5@bloomberg.net, Rob Golum

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