‘Loud Quitting’: What employees need to know

What is loud quitting?

Loud quitting is a workplace trend where employees resign in a fit of rage or do things to “directly harm” their employer.

Examples of loud quitting include:

• Going out of one’s way to be unproductive during work hours
• Penning an extremely aggressive resignation letter to one’s boss
• Sharing sensitive company information or one’s resignation on social media

According to Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace Report, “loud quitters” include individuals who experienced a “severely broken” trust with their employer or were “woefully mismatched to a role, causing constant crises.”

Loud quitting is substantially different from quiet quitting, which involves only doing what is necessary to stay employed.

SEE ALSO
• More than half of workers in Canada, U.S. are ‘quiet quitting’, report finds
• ‘Quiet Firing’: What employees need to know
• What Canadians need to know about ‘quiet layoffs’

Am I entitled to severance pay if I quit my job?

In most cases, non-unionized employees in Canada don’t get a severance package if they voluntarily resign from their position.

Severance is designed to provide workers with financial support while they look for new job after being fired without cause or let go.

If you were forced to leave because of unwanted changes to the terms of your employment, you could have grounds for a constructive dismissal claim.

In this situation, the law would allow you to quit your job and pursue full severance pay.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains everything employees need to know about forced resignations on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

However, losing your temper or doing things to negatively affect the company could put your legal right to claim compensation at risk.

Remaining calm and professional is key. Instead of loud quitting, contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

We can confirm that you were constructively dismissed, assess your legal options, and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Job changes in Ontario: Employee rights
• Changes to your employment in B.C.: Your rights
• Can my employer make changes to my job in Alberta?

How is severance pay calculated?

Severance for non-unionized employees in Canada can be as much as 24 months’ pay.

This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

The amount of compensation you are entitled to is calculated using several factors, including:

• Age
• Position at the company
• Length of service
• Ability to find new work

To figure out how much you could be owed, use our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator. It has helped millions of Canadians understand their severance entitlements.

If your company doesn’t provide you with the correct amount, you have been wrongfully dismissed and should contact our firm immediately.

We regularly resolve wrongful dismissal claims and can help you secure proper severance.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Should I negotiate my own severance package in Ontario?
• Negotiating severance in Alberta: Employee rights
• Severance negotiations in B.C.: What employees need to know

Can my employer punish me for loud quitting?

If your decision to loud quit causes loss or harm to the company, and you didn’t resign, it’s possible that the company could punish you.

However, it’s very unlikely that your boss would be able to make substantial changes to the terms of your employment as punishment.

Major modifications, such as a demotion, workload increase, or pay cut, are illegal in Canada.

If your employer makes significant adjustments to your job as punishment, speak with an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

We can determine if you have been constructively dismissed and help you obtain the compensation you are legally entitled to.

SEE ALSO
• Reprisals at work in Ontario: Know your rights
• What Albertans need to know about reprisals at work
• Employment Law Show: Reprisals at work in Canada

My boss is pressuring me to actually resign after loud quitting, what should I do?

While your employer might be disappointed that you are loud quitting, the company can’t pressure or force you to resign.

If your boss is encouraging you to step down, document their attempts. Keep any letters, emails, or text messages that show how your employer is pressuring you to quit your job.

Once you have gathered all of the relevant documents, don’t resign before contacting our firm. You might have grounds for a constructive dismissal claim.

SEE ALSO
• Employment Law Show: What your employer can’t legally do
• Employment Law Show: How to handle a bad boss
• Employment Law Show: Situations that trigger legal disputes

Can my employer fire me for loud quitting?

In Canada, employers can fire non-unionized workers for any reason, as long as they are provided full severance pay and the reasons for their dismissal aren’t discriminatory. This is known as a termination without cause.

If your decision to loud quit causes loss or harm to the company, it’s possible that your boss could have grounds to fire you for cause.

In this situation, your employer doesn’t owe you a severance package and you won’t be able to access Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

• Example: You are furious that your boss passed you up for a promotion and decide to loud quit. To hurt the company, you decide to share sensitive corporate information across your social media accounts. Since you leaked confidential documents to the public, your employer might be able to terminate you for cause.

However, it’s very difficult for companies to justify this type of dismissal.

Not only does your employer have to prove progressive disciplinary measures were applied, but that a lesser punishment wouldn’t be acceptable.

LEARN MORE
• Severance pay for provincially regulated employees
• Rights to severance for federally regulated employees
• Employment Law Show: Facts about the termination process

Lost your job? Speak with an employment lawyer

If you are fired or let go for loud quitting, or for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals resolve their workplace issues.

We can review your situation, enforce your rights, and ensure that you receive the compensation you are owed.