A Thunder Bay call centre will re-hire about 100 workers.

Teleperformance Canada laid them off back in March after it lost a major client. Now that the company has secured a new client, it's not only hiring back former employees, but it’s also hiring new ones.

“We knew at the time that there was a high chance that we would win a new client, but at the time it wasn't 100 per cent confirmed,” said Charlotte Gummesson, CEO of Teleperformance Canada.

“Working on it over the past few months and actually seeing it come through is very exciting for us."

Gummesson says some employees have already returned to the call centre for specialized training and the rest will start next week.

"It's a very competitive industry, so the results that you're able to produce for the client are obviously key,” she continued.

“But what also plays into it — which was the case with the work that we lost (in Thunder Bay) — was just a change in strategy for the client. They decided to move the work elsewhere. [It was] nothing to do with the performance. In fact, they were extremely pleased with the work that we've done for them over the last few years."

No matter what the reason, workers like Jason Ward are glad to be recalled to work at the Teleperformance building in Thunder Bay's north core.

He says he's been okay during the four-month layoff because “I had some money banked up and I had a second job.”

But he heard it wasn't as easy for others.

"I know some people are really happy to be back and it's a relief for them and their families,” Ward said.

Gummesson noted that, on top of bringing workers back, the company has 150 new jobs to fill.

"Our primary objective was to be able to call back everybody that had previously been laid off,” she said. “Of course it's really good news that we're able to do that and, on top of it, also be able to hire another 150."