Quiet Quitting in Canada: What Employees Need to Know

What Is Quiet Quitting?

Quiet quitting is when employees set clear boundaries at work — doing only what’s required by their job description to protect their work-life balance.

It doesn’t mean actually quitting. Instead, it’s about refusing unpaid overtime or extra duties that go beyond your role. Common examples include:

• Finishing work on time and logging off promptly
• Not responding to emails or messages after hours
• Declining tasks outside your official job scope
• Focusing on efficiency rather than “going above and beyond” every day

The movement gained traction on TikTok and social media, with millions using the hashtag #QuietQuitting to share stories about burnout, overwork, and workplace boundaries.

LEARN MORE
• Loud Quitting: What employees need to know
• What Canadians need to know about ‘quiet firing’
• Quiet layoffs in Canada: Employee rights

Is Quiet Quitting Legal in Canada?

Yes — quiet quitting is legal. Canadian employees have the right to do exactly what’s in their job description.

However, problems can arise if your employer punishes or threatens to punish you for setting these limits. This could be considered a reprisal, which is illegal under employment standards laws.

Example

If your manager stops assigning you key projects or withholds performance feedback because you stopped answering emails after hours, that could qualify as a reprisal.

If this happens, speak with an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP before taking further action. You may be entitled to compensation or severance pay if your working conditions have changed unfairly.

LEARN MORE
• Reprisal At Work Ontario
• Reprisals At Work Alberta
• Reprisals At Work BC

Can You Be Fired for Quiet Quitting?

Your employer can terminate your employment without cause, even if it’s due to quiet quitting — but they must provide full severance pay.

You Can’t Be Fired For Cause

In Canada, termination for cause (no severance) is reserved for serious misconduct like theft or insubordination. Simply doing your job as outlined does not qualify.

To prove “just cause,” the company would have to show a pattern of poor performance, documented warnings, and clear attempts to correct the issue — a high bar to meet.

What If You Feel Punished for Quiet Quitting?

If your employer reduces your hours, pay, or duties, or excludes you from meetings or promotions, you may be experiencing constructive dismissal — meaning your job has fundamentally changed without consent.

In that case, you may be able to:

1. Refuse the changes in writing
2. Consult an employment lawyer to explore a constructive dismissal claim
3. Pursue full severance pay if you decide to leave

You do not need to accept major negative changes to your employment, even if you were “quiet quitting.”

Should You Resign Instead of Quiet Quitting?

If you resign voluntarily, you normally won’t receive severance pay. But if your employer’s behaviour effectively forces you to quit — such as through reduced responsibilities or hostility — that could qualify as constructive dismissal, allowing you to claim compensation.

The Right to Disconnect

Ontario’s Right to Disconnect legislation helps employees manage after-hours expectations. It requires larger employers to have written policies outlining when workers can ignore calls and emails.

Even if you live outside Ontario, the principle is the same: employees across Canada have a right to reasonable work-life balance and freedom from retaliation for asserting it.

Key Takeaways

• Quiet quitting is not quitting — it’s setting healthy work boundaries.
• You can’t be legally punished for doing your job as agreed.
• Firings related to quiet quitting usually require severance pay.
• If your duties or pay are cut, you may have a constructive dismissal claim.

Talk to an Employment Lawyer About Quiet Quitting

If you’ve been punished, demoted, or let go for quiet quitting, contact the team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our employment lawyers in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver have helped tens of thousands of Canadians understand their rights and recover the compensation they deserve.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has:

• 👥 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.