Rogers' voluntary buyouts could signal further industry cuts to come: analyst

Rogers chair of the board Edward Rogers, left, talks with CEO Tony Staffieri at the telecommunications company's AGM, in Toronto, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO — While it’s yet to be determined how many employees will accept Rogers Communications Inc.’s buyout offer, an analyst says it could mark the start of a cost-cutting wave throughout the telecommunications industry.

Rogers said Monday it is offering voluntary departure and retirement packages to an undisclosed number of its employees, with Bloomberg reporting around 10,000 would be eligible.

Desjardins analyst Jerome Dubreuil says it could rank among the largest telecom workforce reductions in recent memory, noting there is “room for more cost cutting” among other large telecom companies.

Rogers, whose workforce totalled around 25,000 employees in 2025, announced last week that it is cutting its capital spending by 30 per cent compared with last year, citing regulatory and competitive pressures.

• Latest updates on company news here

Company spokesman Zac Carreiro says certain employees within Rogers’ business and corporate levels are eligible to accept a buyout, however exclusions apply to on-air talent, Sportsnet employees, those who are union members and MLSE and Toronto Blue Jays employees.

Last week, chief executive Tony Staffieri reiterated Rogers’ plans to acquire the remaining 25 per cent of MLSE later this year, a move it estimates will bring the total value of its sports and media assets to more than $25 billion.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2026.