Charter Communications to lay off all 176 Portland call-center employees

File photo / Courtesy of Spectrum Charter Communications Inc., branded as Spectrum, is laying of 176 employees at its Portland call center.

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By Renee Cordes

Charter Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR), the Connecticut-based owner of the Spectrum telecommunications brand, plans to lay off all 176 employees at its Portland call center. It is located at 901 Washington Ave.

'This change allows us to deliver information, training and technology to our representatives more efficiently," Lara Pritchard, a spoksewoman for the company, told Mainebiz via email on Friday. She said employees being laid off were informed on Wednesday.

"Employees may relocate in their current role to select customer service locations and are eligible for relocation benefits," she said.

Pritchard said that employees will continue to receive regular pay for 90 days, after which those who don't relocate will receive severance and eligible benefits.

Employees affected by the layoffs may also apply for any open role for which they are qualified, she said.

The company employed 700 people in Maine as of August.

Looking ahead, Pritchard said the layoffs will have no impact on the company's services in Maine, and that calls will be handled in its other U.S. centers, "where we can deliver information, training and technology to our representatives more efficiently."

She also said the company will continue to have a strong presence across its Maine service area and that its investment in the state will continue.

"The service upgrades you’re seeing in Maine come from multi-year investment to strengthen and expand speed, reliability, capacity and service statewide," she said. "That work continues regardless of organizational adjustments. The reality is, we’re expanding service, strengthening the network and continuing to invest in Maine."

Maine Department of Labor

In accordance with federal law, the layoffs were notified to the Maine Department of Labor.

Jessica Picard, a spokeswoman for the department, said that its rapid response team is in direct contact with Charter Communications and offering assistance.

"We are working closely with the company, and working cooperatively to provide any additional resources workers may need, including connection with the Maine CareerCenter to assist with job search and employment opportunities," she told Mainebiz.

Q3 results miss

In October, Charter posted third-quarter earnings and revenue below market expectations as the number of internet customers decrease by 109,000 compared to a decline of 110,000 during the third quarter of 2024.

Third-quarter diluted earnings per share fell to $8.34, down 5.4% from a year earlier and 10.52% below the consensus forecasts of analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research.

Revenues of $13.7 billion were 0.9% lower than a year ago, driven by lower residential video and advertising sales revenues but partially offset by growth in residential mobile service and Internet revenues. The revenue figure missed the Zacks forecast by 0.52%.

"We are operating well in a competitive environment, where consumer products and applications haven't yet caught up with our uniquely differentiated network capabilities," Chris Winfrey, the company's president and CEO, said in October's earnings announcement.

On Thursday, shares closed down 0.58% at $212.06 on Wall Street, giving the stock a market capitalization of around $27.4 billion. Shares have lost 45% of their value in the past year.

Through Spectrum, the Stamford, Conn.-based broadband connectivity company provides Internet, mobile, video and voice services to 58 million homes and business customers across 41 states.