SCDSB Layoffs 2026: What’s Happening & Severance Rights in Ontario

The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has reportedly issued layoff notices to nearly 100 full-time and part-time secondary school teachers on April 16, 2026. (CollingwoodToday)

“The important work [teachers] are doing to support their students every single day makes it all the more heartbreaking when they are told they are no longer needed. The system needs them. Your kids need them,” Jen Hare, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) in Simcoe County, said in a news release.

“This [provincial] government has chosen not to provide the necessary funding.”

SCDSB trustees were told in March that a workforce reduction was likely due to declining enrolment at the board.

This page explains:

• What’s happening with SCDSB layoffs
• Whether a SCDSB layoff is permanent
• How much severance non-unionized SCDSB employees may be owed
• What to do before signing a severance offer

Is a SCDSB Layoff Temporary or Permanent?

For non-unionized SCDSB employees, a layoff is almost always treated as a termination without cause, even if the following language is used:

• “Restructuring”
• “Reorganization”
• “Transformation”
• “Temporary layoff”

Unless your employment contract explicitly allows for the SCDSB to temporarily lay you off, the company can’t place you on indefinite layoff without terminating your employment — meaning they must provide full severance pay.

Severance Pay for SCDSB Staff

Non-unionized employees, including those at the SCDSB, are often owed far more severance pay than what’s outlined in their initial offer.

Severance is based on common law entitlements, not just minimum standards. Factors include:

• Age
• Length of service
• Position and seniority
• Availability of comparable jobs

It’s not uncommon for SCDSB employees to be owed up to 24 months of compensation.

Severance may include:

• Base salary
• Continued benefits
• Bonus and incentive compensation
• Stock, equity, or RRSP contributions (where applicable)
• Vacation pay
• Other earned compensation

First offers often:

• Cover only minimum entitlements
• Exclude bonuses or incentives
• Impose short signing deadlines
• Undervalue long-service or senior employees

Severance Offers: Common Problems

Canadian employees affected by layoffs frequently report issues such as:

• Severance offers far below legal entitlements
• Missing or unclear compensation breakdowns
• Benefits cut off too early
• Bonuses excluded without justification
• “Temporary layoff” language used improperly
• Pressure to sign within 24–48 hours

Wrongful Dismissal and SCDSB Layoffs

A wrongful dismissal occurs when major employers, including the SCDSB, fail to provide full severance required under common law.

You may have a claim if:

• Your severance offer is too low
• A termination clause isn’t enforceable
• You were pressured to accept your severance offer on the spot
• Bonuses or benefits were excluded from your severance package
• You were terminated while on medical, parental, or disability leave
• The SCDSB labelled your termination a “temporary layoff” without contractual authority

Large-scale layoffs at the SCDSB don’t reduce their legal obligations.

Laid Off at the SCDSB? Next Steps

If you’ve been laid off at the SCDSB:

1. Don’t sign your severance offer immediately
2. Gather your employment contract, bonus plans, and benefits information
3. Use the Severance Pay Calculator to double-check your entitlements
4. Keep records of your role, compensation, and length of service
5. Speak with an employment lawyer before agreeing to anything

SCDSB Layoffs: Frequently Asked Questions

How much severance can SCDSB employees receive?

Up to 24 months — depending on age, service, and position.

Are SCDSB layoffs permanent?

For non-unionized employees, yes. A layoff is typically a termination.

Does the SCDSB have to include bonuses in severance?

Often yes — especially if bonuses were a regular part of compensation.

Can the SCDSB terminate employees on leave?

This can raise serious wrongful dismissal and human rights issues.

Can employment lawyers represent unionized SCDSB staff?

No. Unionized SCDSB employees must go through their union.

Lost Your Job? Get Help Now

If the SCDSB has laid you off, or offered a severance/buyout package, don’t do anything before seeking legal advice.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, one of Canada’s most reviewed employment law firms, has helped more than 50,000 Canadians secure the compensation they’re legally entitled to.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.