Bell Canada is set to eliminate approximately 690 jobs as part of its strategy to achieve sustainable growth. The parent company, BCE Inc., announced on Thursday that about 650 management positions will be cut, along with around 40 jobs at its Bell Media subsidiary. This decision represents less than 2% of Bell's total workforce and less than 1% of the Bell Media team. Notably, no unionized employees will be affected by these layoffs.

The company described the job cuts as a "difficult but necessary decision" aimed at aligning its team structure with its growth plan. Bell spokesperson Katharine Cuplinskas stated, "We know this is difficult for those who are impacted and we are supporting each person affected." She emphasized that Bell remains committed to investing in strategic priorities that enhance customer experience and drive business growth.

This latest round of layoffs follows a series of significant job reductions over the past year. In February 2024, Bell cut 9% of its workforce, impacting about 4,800 employees, and also made substantial changes to its media operations, including the closure of several radio stations and the discontinuation of various television newscasts. Earlier in June 2023, the company eliminated around 1,300 positions, which accounted for nearly 3% of its workforce at that time.

The recent job cuts come as BCE aims to achieve $1.5 billion in cost savings by 2028 through a comprehensive transformation and a focus on operational efficiencies. This goal was outlined during the company's investor day, where it presented a three-year strategic plan centered on fiber, wireless, AI-powered enterprise solutions, and digital media.

Despite the layoffs, BCE reported a profit of $4.5 billion, or $4.84 per share, for the quarter ending September 30. This marks a significant recovery compared to a loss of $1.24 billion, or $1.36 per share, in the same quarter the previous year. The restructuring at Bell comes amid broader challenges in the telecommunications industry, where major players like Verizon have also announced significant job cuts to adapt to increased competition and improve customer service.