Roughriders lay off employees in business office, football operations

With the team facing a $10-million shortfall due to COVID-19, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have had to lay off some employees.

In a statement, the CFL team said it “had to make difficult decisions in order to ensure the long-term stability and sustainability of the club.”

It said it had to make major adjustments to its workforce, “including temporary and permanent layoffs in both the Business Office and Football Operations.” The organization wouldn’t say how many employees were affected.

The Roughriders, other CFL teams and the league itself have been facing financial hardships because the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season.

The Roughriders said in the spring they implemented wage reductions, reduced workweeks for staff and the use of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

The team said these decisions “were not taken lightly and were not a reflection of the hard work that our employees put in every day — especially during these challenging times.”