Quiet Firing in Canada: What Employees Need to Know

What Is Quiet Firing?

Quiet firing is when an employer deliberately makes an employee’s job harder or less rewarding to pressure them into quitting — instead of formally firing them.

Common examples include:

• Ignoring or excluding an employee from meetings or communication
• Passing over staff for raises or promotions without reason
• Withholding information or feedback needed to perform well
• Overloading an employee with unrealistic tasks
• Changing job duties or hours to make the role unpleasant

It’s often a response to the “quiet quitting” trend, where employees scale back extra work to restore work-life balance. But quiet firing can cross into illegal territory when it becomes a reprisal or constructive dismissal.

Is Quiet Firing Legal in Canada?

No. Employers in Canada can’t punish or pressure employees for asserting their workplace rights.

If your boss limits your responsibilities, ignores you, or treats you unfairly because you’re setting boundaries (for example, not working unpaid overtime), that could amount to a reprisal — which is illegal under provincial employment laws.

Example

Jenna starts leaving work on time and stops answering emails after hours. Her manager responds by cutting her out of meetings and removing key responsibilities. That behaviour could be considered a reprisal or constructive dismissal, entitling her to compensation or severance pay.

If this sounds familiar, speak to an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP before quitting — you may have a strong legal claim.

Quiet Firing vs. Constructive Dismissal

When an employer changes the terms of your job without consent — such as reducing your pay, demoting you, or removing key duties — it may be considered constructive dismissal.

In that case, you can:

1. Reject the change in writing
2. Consult an employment lawyer to pursue full severance pay— up to 24 months

Even if you were hoping to protect your work-life balance, you don’t have to tolerate major negative changes to your role.

What Should You Do If You’re Being Quiet Fired?

Keep a written record of what’s happening. Save emails, meeting notes, and performance reviews that show:

• You’ve been excluded from important discussions or decisions
• You’ve requested feedback and received no response
• You were denied promotions or raises without cause
• Your job duties or hours were changed without consent

Once you’ve documented the situation, contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. A lawyer can review your evidence and confirm whether you’re experiencing a reprisal or constructive dismissal.

Should You Quit If You’re Being Quiet Fired?

No — at least not right away.

If you resign voluntarily, you typically lose your right to severance pay. However, if you’re being pushed out through mistreatment or job changes, you could resign with cause and still claim severance.

Always get legal advice first to avoid jeopardizing your claim.

Can an Employer Fire You for Quiet Quitting?

Yes, but only through a termination without cause, meaning you’re entitled to full severance pay.

A company would have to prove serious misconduct or repeated warnings to fire someone for cause, which rarely applies to “quiet quitting.”

So, if quiet quitting leads your employer to quietly fire you — you still have rights.

Key Takeaways

• Quiet firing is not legal if it punishes employees for asserting workplace rights
• It may qualify as a reprisal or constructive dismissal
• Keep written records of unfair treatment
• Don’t quit before speaking with an employment lawyer — you could lose severance
• You may be owed compensation if your employer tries to push you out

Talk to an Employment Lawyer About Quiet Firing

If your employer is freezing you out, changing your job, or pressuring you to resign, you don’t have to accept it.

The team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped tens of thousands of Canadians in Ontario, Alberta, and BC stand up to unfair employers and secure what they’re owed.

We have:

• 👥 Successfully represented 50,000+ Canadians
• 💰 Secured millions in severance payouts
• ⚖️ Settled over 99% of cases out of court
• 📱 Free Termination Consultations — in some, but not all, cases
• ⭐ Earned 3,000+ 5-star Google reviews
• 🏆 Named on of Canada’s Best Law Firms

Call 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.