Government of British Columbia Employees and Severance Pay

The Government of British Columbia is the provincial government of B.C., Canada. It is responsible for the governance of the province and the delivery of public services to its citizens. The province was established in 1871, and adopted its current parliamentary system in 1982.

The B.C. Government has various roles and responsibilities, including the development and implementation of laws, regulations, and policies related to healthcare, education, transportation, social services, and natural resources, among others.

In terms of the number of employees, the Government of B.C. has approximately 27,000 union and over 6,000 non-union workers.

The types of jobs available within the Government of B.C. vary greatly, from administrative and clerical positions to highly specialized roles in fields such as law, engineering, and healthcare.

Severance for non-union B.C. government employees

Are Government of British Columbia employees entitled to severance pay?

Yes, non-unionized B.C. Government employees are entitled to a full severance package when they are fired or laid off from their job. This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly schedules.

How much severance pay do they get?

Non-unionized Government of British Columbia employees can get up to 24 months of severance pay.

Severance is the compensation a non-unionized public or private sector worker in Canada receives from their employer when they are fired without cause.

Even if you are fired for cause, it’s very likely that you are still entitled to full severance pay because employees often don’t meet the conditions necessary for this type of dismissal.

LEARN MORE
• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Severance packages in mass layoffs

Regardless of a company’s grasp on employment law, they are legally required to provide proper compensation following a termination.

This concept applies during challenging economic conditions, downsizing, the closure of a business, or major public health events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains everything you need to know about severance pay on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP have represented tens of thousands of employees in severance package negotiations.

We have successfully secured much larger amounts for individuals employed across a variety of positions, from entry level jobs to executives.

How to properly calculate severance pay

Employers often incorrectly calculate severance pay. There is a belief that severance pay is one week’s pay, two weeks’ pay, or a week for every year of service an employee has with the company.

For non-unionized employees, the main factors of termination or severance pay include age, length of service, position, bonuses, benefits, and the ability to find new work. For unionized employees, you must refer to your union and collective bargaining agreement for details about what you may be owed.

If you work for the Government of B.C., you are likely a provincially regulated employee. That means your severance package must consider:

• Your minimum severance pay as a provincially regulated employee, which is determined by each individual province.
• Your full severance pay according to our legal system (common law) which can be as much as 24 months’ pay.

To figure out how much compensation you may be entitled to, use our firm’s Pocket Employment Lawyer.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Severance Pay in Ontario
• Alberta severance packages
• Understanding severance in B.C.
• Layoffs in Canada

Don’t sign on the dotted line!

Do not accept any severance offer, termination papers, or exit agreement that the Government of B.C. may provide you with.

Once you sign back these documents, you eliminate your ability to negotiate a fair and proper severance package.

Generally speaking, if an employee does not receive the proper amount of severance pay when they lose their job, they may be considered to have been wrongfully dismissed. An employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can analyze your situation and explain how much compensation you may be owed.

Talk to an employment lawyer

The experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals across the country. In addition to severance package negotiations, our team has experience securing solutions for the following employment matters:

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. stand ready to help you solve your workplace issues.

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with an employment issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need, and the compensation you deserve.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of 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.