Sudden layoffs at Boyd Excavating in Pilot Butte

Staff say dozens of employees have been suddenly laid off at Boyd Excavating in Pilot Butte, but the owners of the business have been tight-lipped about the situation.

CTV News has learned that the employees were laid off without notice last Thursday, but repeated calls to company president Tyler Boyd have not been returned.

His brother, Tim Boyd, says it’s still business as usual. But late Wednesday, the Better Business Bureau’s website contained an alert indicating that it appears the company is no longer in business.

Boyd Excavating has a contract with the City of Regina that runs until October. The city said it received a last-minute notification from the company, saying they weren’t able to do a job last Friday.

However, the company has since assured the city that it will meet its contractual obligations.

According to a former employee, the company called a few drivers Tuesday, saying work was back on.

But they say when they went in to work, the workshop was empty and the owners' mother was answering phones. Tools and other equipment were gone.

Employees who are now out of work say they are worried about finding new employment on short notice. They are hoping to receive their next, and perhaps final, paycheques Friday.

Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Morgan Campbell