Lior Samfiru Talks With The Canadian Press on What You Can Do if You’ve Lost Your Job

Interview Summary

Ongoing layoffs have continued across the country and in various sectors for months now. While employers scramble to deal with the impact of tariffs, an ever-changing job market and potential financial difficulties, employees also face uncertain times. Many are unaware of their rights after being terminated, or do not believe they are entitled to severance pay.

Lior Samfiru, national co-founding Partner and  Toronto employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, spoke with Cathy Miyagi at the Canadian Press to discuss the challenges facing many employees who have been let go by their employers.

Interview Notes

• Reacting after being let go: Samfiru noted that, despite the stressful circumstances, employees should be careful to act negatively toward their employers upon termination. “I don’t want people to take this opportunity to tell their bosses everything they hate about them or bad-mouth the company to others,” said Samfiru.“All of those things could bring legal action against the individual, but equally as important, may make it that much more difficult to resolve a severance issue.”
• Misconceptions about severance pay: “Individuals and employers alike misunderstand provincial employment standards, which often require workers to be paid one week of salary per year of employment,” Samfiru explained.
• Determining severance pay: Samfiru discussed the various elements that can impact an employee’s severance entitlements. “After considering your age, tenure with the company, industry, any medical conditions and the current unemployment rate, severance could be ten to 20 times higher than what’s outlined in employment standards.”
• Severance pay deadlines: Samfiru urged employees not to feel pressured to accept a severance offer by their former employer’s deadline. “Your legal rights don’t expire on Friday at five,” he said. “You have two years.”
• Applying for employment insurance: “While you cannot get EI and severance for the same period, EI can kick back in if the severance runs out and you’re still unemployed,” Samfiru stated.

Related Resources

For further insights and discussions related to employee rights, explore the following resource:

• Layoffs in 2025