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Laid-off RIM employees will get assistance from the Ontario government, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University
Rumour had it that Research In Motion was going to let go of 3,000 employees today – clearly that didn’t happen. The unfortunate news is that the layoffs are inevitable. The 3,000 is part of the 5,000 employees that RIM announced a couple months ago, which will assist them in saving $1 billion.
There’s a new and very timely report in the CBC today, noting that the Ontario government, Communitech (not-for-profit organization that helps tech companies in Waterloo region), University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University will all band together to help those RIM employees pick up the pieces after they’ve been laid-off.
The CBC reports that “The universities are adding spaces in entrepreneurship and business programs, to help workers develop skills to start their own businesses. Communitech and Employment Ontario will help workers find new jobs in the sector in the region, sometimes referred to as ‘Silicon Valley North.’ The province will also create a centre where laid-off workers can look for new jobs, get employment counselling or go back to school.”
RIM has not confirmed the timing, nor locations, of the job cuts, but they are expected to be widespread, possibly impacting those in customer service, human resources, marketing, non-enterprise sales roles. Anyone focussed on bringing the new BlackBerry 10 OS to life is reportedly “safe.”
RIM’s global head office is located in Waterloo, Ontario. Currently there’s over 16,500 employees – 9,000 of them work in the Waterloo region.
Source: CBC
Discussion
34 comments for “Laid-off RIM employees will get assistance from the Ontario government, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University”
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Good news. We need to insure knowledge is fostered and thrives in Canada. Especially in waterloo.
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RIM employees are being fired by the bunches while Thorsten Heins receives his $10MM Salary and drives his red SLS Mercedes Benz with gall wing doors. He also owns an Audi Q7.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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All because RIM refused to listen to what the market wants and they were so arrogant. Big fat Mikey and Baldsack Jimbo. SHAME ON THEM!
MIKE LIZARD should step down and fall on his sword.
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NO. I REFUSE TO GIVE OUT MORE EI PAYMENTS
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Looks like more dead rimmers will be goin on EI
Endale Endale,,mama EI EI!!!!!! oh ohhh! what’s poppin tonight
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Why doesn’t Thorsten Heins aka Puppet take a $1 salary so he can help contribute to the $1B cutback??
Why does Thorsten travel in a private jet and not commercial? Why does he still get privileges and RIMMers are cut? Why?
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rim?
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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At least the laid off employees are getting a safety net. Many in other industries won’t get the same type of assistance
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Well it’s better than nothing. Kudos to the government for stepping in to help out.
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” clearly that didn’t happen”
Maybe not so clear. I am personally aware some were notified today their positions were found to be redundant.
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How the hell is that fair to me as a tax-payer, who happen to loose the job too but wasn’t lucky enogh to be employed by RIM? On what grounds these people get preferrential treatment for my money?
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I lost my job several times because of cut backs and no one offered me schooling and te government wouldn’t even give me any of the EI I paid over the past decade. F*** that s***!
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God bless Canada…. proud to be Canadian
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Why are RIM employees getting all this help and preferential treatment? I’ve been out of school for 2 years and still have a shitty part-time job and can barely scrape by. I don”t see anyone clamoring to help me.
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It’s simple , it’s called politics and votes .
But you’re absolutely right .1000 internets to you .
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fine print with that “internets has no cash value, can only be redeemed on 4chang.org”
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So many upset people here, unfortunately those who are complaining such as a college student need to realize that some friends the 5000 employees might have real boils and families to take care of. As well this is a move to make and help create companies to help get others jobs. I know it is tough to find a job today, but no need to be upset because someone else is getting help after be burned. Try being supportive and it will come back to you
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This is why RIM and Canada are so great. They help you get back onto your feet.
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You have to think a little outside the box here.
If you don’t keep the brains in the country and if you let the skilled workers go across the border for better offer, Canada can go back to exporting lumber, Maple syrup and Molson Export.
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Lots of misinformation.
This is a standard Ontario government program available to any company doing mass layoffs or any organised group of employees going through mass layoffs. The money is in the current Employment Ontario budget. Happened at Ford, GM, Chrysler, Dofasco, Stelco, Bombardier, Inglis and many many many other places. There are no extra taxes having to be paid. Nor are RIM employees getting special treatment.
Its called a “Rapid Re-employment and Training Service ” and has been around since the 90′s.
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Wow, screw all of people hating on these RIM employees for getting assistance. Can’t anyone be grateful for others anymore? Shame on you.
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I know of at least 30 people that have been let go already. One whole department is gone. Another friend of mine told me his whole team has to come to the office tomorrow for an “announcement “. Some were told to clean out there desks before they left for the day.
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Been laid off myself before … not a good feeling. Regardless of how anyone feels about the misdirections/mistakes RIM made with their business directions, there are still average working stiffs like many of us who will be affected.
I hope they find jobs soon … the more people working in this country, the better for the economy and all of us as a nation.
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I feel badly for them but I don’t see anyone running to help any of us when we get laid off. Besides, don’t we already have a program in place called EI? Lord knows I pay enough into it. bs
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Move to Alberta if you don’t have a job. As an employer I pay 1.4 times what the employee pays for EI. The laughable thing about it is I can’t find people to work for me. So my business is helping these guys find another 80k job. The problem is that people in this country live at or above their means and a job loss screws them. They buy big houses and nice cars on credit and need this program. Safety nets are for poor people. These well to do tech employees need not a safety net just like Government Motors. Albeit said that the people in the Maritime’s and Quebec take advantage of it the most.
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To all of you complaining about “I lost my jobs and how come I didn’t get help” Why don’t you do some research and look into what the government has in place instead of outright complaining like a bunch of whiny children? Ontario offers a Second Career program…….. Even so, if life were that equitable, we wouldn’t have such a large gap between rich and poor. Buck up, suck it up and get your a$$ in gear to do something about it. Rely on yourself and not so much on others.
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They should be forced to work at McDonalds!
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My friend was offered something similar when he was laid off from Rogers. They have a program called Second Career through the government.
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Those who can’t find a real job…teach!
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RIM WILL RISE AGAIN and then RIM WILL BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF THEM US-AMERICAN AND ASIAN TECHO TAKY NON-SMARTY PHONES
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Good to know that theyre helping out laid-off employees. most companies just throw out there employees without thinking of their employees future.
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