Called back

Call centre hopes to rehire some displaced workers

An online tech support company in Charlottetown that abruptly cut 50 employees is hoping to do some rehiring.

Paul Schoolfield, CEO of Server Sitters, says a couple of employees have been brought back, and he is pursuing larger contracts that would allow for further rehires.

The unexpected loss of a major contract that was supposed to run until early 2018 but was suddenly ended by London Trust Media on April 30 resulted in the termination of roughly half the company’s workforce.

Schoolfield says the displaced workers have all been paid in full for time worked and vacation pay, with some also receiving coverage for fees encountered due to the sudden termination of their employment.

The Employment Standards Branch is continuing its investigation to determine if Server Sitters met the terms of exceptions provided for under the Employment Standards Act.

The company has not paid severance because it unexpectedly lost a major contract.

However, Schoolfield said he would abide by the findings of the Employment Standards Branch.

The department told The Guardian it will also review notice of termination provisions under Section 29 of the Employment Standards Act to see if there needs to be any improvements to protect employees.

Schoolfield says he is working with SkillsPEI to help affected workers to get back into the workforce as quickly as possible, even if not with Server Sitters.

“I’d like to thank the entire Server Sitters team for their hard work and dedication,’’ he says.

“This situation has been a tragedy.’’ Schoolfield also noted he is still awaiting a statement of defence to be filed after he filed a lawsuit in P.E.I. Supreme Court April 5 against the company’s former chief of business development, who was fired in late December, and the former chief revenue officer, who quit unannounced in late March.

The company is seeking “special damages for loss of business arising from the conduct of the defendants.’’