Convergys cuts 800 jobs at Ottawa call centre

Convergys, which operates one of Ottawa's biggest call centres, says it will lay off about 800 workers in April.

Thecompanytold staff about the cuts on Monday, an employee said. Media reports said the layoffs were prompted by AT&T's decision to moveits customer relations centreto the Philippines.AT&T is one of Covergys's major clients.

After the cuts, about 100 people will continue to work out of the Ottawa office, a CTV report said. Company officials were not available for comment on the job cuts.

The Cincinnati-based company, which specializes in human resource management and customer service, announced its fourth-quarter earnings for 2009 Tuesday, reporting revenue of $684 million US, down from $704 million USin the same period last year.

The job cuts in Ottawa follow a decision by the company last December to cut 500 jobs at its call centre in Winnipeg. The company cited a decrease in call volumes caused by the flagging economy as the reason for the Winnipegcuts.