Hudson91裸聊视频檚 Bay Co. is permanently laying off more than 600 workers across Canada amid ongoing store closures due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

Nearly half the company91裸聊视频檚 department stores remain temporarily closed, said Tiffany Bourre, a spokeswoman for the iconic retailer.

91裸聊视频淭he pandemic continues to have a significant impact on non-essential retailers,91裸聊视频� she said in an emailed statement. 91裸聊视频淒ue to these circumstances beyond our control, the company has had to make adjustments which have resulted in a reduction in workforce.91裸聊视频�

The permanent layoffs represent less than five per cent of the company91裸聊视频檚 total workforce, Bourre said.

She added that it was 91裸聊视频渁n incredibly tough decision91裸聊视频� and that HBC is committed to treating each individual affected with fairness and respect during these difficult times.

Yet employment lawyer Lior Samfiru said his firm has been contacted by about 40 HBC workers concerned about the terms of their termination.

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Samfiru, a partner with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, said the terminated workers he has spoken with claim they are not being offered adequate severance, and such a situation could be considered a wrongful dismissal.

The employees have received a so-called working notice, he said, which means they are expected to work until their termination date.

Yet he calls such a notice when stores aren91裸聊视频檛 open and employees can91裸聊视频檛 work 91裸聊视频渁bsurd,91裸聊视频� and said HBC should be providing payment in lieu of notice.

Samfiru said his law firm will be engaging HBC on behalf of terminated employees to ensure 91裸聊视频渢hey get what they91裸聊视频檙e owed.91裸聊视频�

None of the allegations have been tested in court.

Meanwhile, he said the workers, both part-time and full-time, have worked for the retailer for between 10 and 30 years, predominantly in sales and middle management at stores in the Toronto area, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver.

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He says some workers have mentioned specifically a 91裸聊视频渘ational restructuring.91裸聊视频�

Non-essential retailers have been hammered during the pandemic, with stores across the country closed or facing strict capacity restrictions.

Last month, HBC asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to review the province of Ontario91裸聊视频檚 decision to temporarily close non-essential retailers.

A lawyer for the department store retailer said the province91裸聊视频檚 regulations make no 91裸聊视频渞ational distinction91裸聊视频� between the department store and some of the big box and discount retailers which are allowed to remain open.

The court dismissed HBC91裸聊视频檚 bid to amend Ontario91裸聊视频檚 retail lockdown rule, but questioned what it called the 91裸聊视频渨isdom and efficacy91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� of the province91裸聊视频檚 lockdown measures.

In its decision, a panel of the court91裸聊视频檚 judges said allowing big box stores that happen to sell groceries to remain fully open 91裸聊视频� potentially generating more customer traffic 91裸聊视频� is 91裸聊视频渙pen to question.91裸聊视频�

Brett Bundale, The Canadian Press