Employees sued for quitting and failing to provide notice: Employment lawyer discusses on CTV News

Interview Summary

Several employees in British Columbia faced legal action from their former employers for failing to provide proper notice before resigning.

A small claims court dismissed these cases, but both instances have sparked questions regarding employee obligations.

Are employees legally bound to provide notice before resigning from their positions? Can employers pursue legal action if their businesses are affected?

Alex Lucifero, an Ontario employment lawyer and Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, joined CTV News Ottawa to discuss employee rights and obligations, as well as employer options.

Interview Notes

• Employee obligations to provide notice: Lucifero notes that employees should always consider the terms outlined in their employment agreements. “There might be something in there that speaks to the kind of notice you must offer your employer.” Lucifero went on to explain that while the standard period of notice is typically two weeks, some senior-level employees could owe more.
• Legal consequences for failing to provide notice: Lucifero discussed the potential legal implications to employees who fail to provide notice, but also reiterated that ultimately the courts dismissed both cases. “Yes, employers have to prove that employees failed to provide notice. Employers also have to prove that they suffered a loss as a result of the lack of notice.”

Related Resources

For further insights and discussions related to resignations and notice, explore the following resources:

• “Quiet quitting” What employees need to know
• Employment lawyer discusses failure to provide notice of resignation