MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens are reducing their workforce during the COVID-19 crisis.
Groupe CH, which also owns the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket, says it will proceed with a temporary reduction in personnel, impacting 60 per cent of the organization’s employees.
The reduction will start Monday.
Grope CH says it has established a $6-millon assistance fund to help employees. The organization says the fund will help enhance employment insurance benefits for eight weeks, ensuring that employees will receive 80 per cent of their base salary for that period.
The fund also will provide loans to employees in difficult financial situations.
The NHL and AHL suspended their seasons earlier this month.
“Now more than ever, it is important to support our community and demonstrate our solidarity to one another. We are working extremely hard to limit the impact this situation will have on our employees,” Groupe CH owner Geoff Molson said in a statement.
Below is the full statement released by the Canadiens:
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic that has forced the pausing of the NHL and AHL seasons, in addition to the postponements of all shows, Groupe CH has made the decision to proceed with a temporary reduction in personnel, which will impact 60% of the organization’s employees. This workforce reduction will take effect on March 30. This decision was necessary given the significant impact the pandemic has had on the sports and entertainment industries.
In an effort to reduce the impact of this decision on the employees, Groupe CH has established a six (6) million dollar assistance fund. This fund will help enhance employment insurance benefits for a period of eight (8) weeks, ensuring that employees will receive 80% of their base salary during this period.
The fund will also be made available to provide loans to employees who find themselves in difficult financial situations as a result of the global pandemic.
“Now more than ever, it is important to support our community and demonstrate our solidarity to one another. We are working extremely hard to limit the impact this situation will have on our employees. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our employees for their understanding and patience. During difficult times like these, our commitment to one another will help us rebound faster,” said Groupe CH owner, president, and CEO, Geoff Molson.
Groupe CH is committed to returning the organization’s employees back to work as soon as the situation permits.
