Rona Layoffs: Your Rights and Severance Pay Explained

Facing a layoff at Rona? Know your options

What is Rona?

Rona, founded in 1939, is a Canadian retail company that specializes in home improvement and construction products.

In 2016, Rona was acquired by Lowe’s. On February 3, 2023 Lowe’s and Rona were purchased by Sycamore Partners.

The Québec-based home improvement retailer operates nearly 500 stores across Canada and employs 26,000 people.

Some common jobs include store associates, department managers, customer service representatives, sales specialists, operations managers, logistics professionals, and corporate support roles in areas like finance, marketing, and human resources.

Rights for non-unionized employees

The retail industry comes with unique dynamics that can affect staff during a layoff.

For instance, individuals often work under specific employment contracts, bonus structures, or non-compete clauses that may impact their severance entitlements and future job prospects.

If you’ve been let go from Rona, it’s critical to review your employment agreement carefully.

We’re here to support your next steps

Losing your job is more than just a financial setback — it’s a major change that can impact your career trajectory and personal confidence.

This guide is here to provide clarity and empower you during this transition.

We’ll outline your severance rights, explain what non-unionized employees are entitled to, and offer actionable steps to help you move forward and protect your future.

WATCH: Key things non-unionized employees should know after a layoff, with employment lawyer Lior Samfiru on the Employment Law Show.

Laid off at Rona? 5 steps to take

1️⃣ Don’t sign anything immediately: Take your time to review all termination documents carefully. Speak with a lawyer before signing anything to ensure you’re fully informed and protected.

2️⃣ Document everything: Save copies of termination letters, severance offers, and correspondence with your employer for future reference.

3️⃣ Use our Severance Pay Calculator: Estimate what you’re owed with our Severance Pay Calculator. This quick step helps you understand your entitlements and plan your next move.

4️⃣ Get legal advice: Contact an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to ensure your severance package reflects your full rights.

5️⃣ Start exploring new opportunities: Update your resume and begin searching for new roles. Proactively seeking work not only boosts your career, but also demonstrates your effort to find a new job, which is important in severance claims.

Layoff FAQs

Do employment contracts affect severance?

Yes, an employment contract can affect your severance entitlements if it includes enforceable termination clauses.

However, many of these clauses may be invalid for several reasons.

Are temporary layoffs legal?

Temporary layoffs for non-unionized employees are generally not permitted unless specifically allowed by an employment contract.

Otherwise, a layoff may be treated as a termination through a constructive dismissal claim.

Am I entitled to severance as a contractor?

If your work closely resembles that of an employee — such as reporting to a manager, using company equipment, or working regular hours — you may qualify for severance even if classified as a contractor.

Should I negotiate my severance package?

To ensure that you receive the amount of compensation that you’re entitled to, let our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia negotiate on your behalf.

Are severance deadlines legal?

Your employer’s deadline to accept a severance offer isn’t legally binding.

You have up to two years from your termination date to file a claim for severance, so it’s important to review your offer carefully and seek legal advice before signing anything.

Can unionized employees get severance?

Unionized employees are governed by collective agreements, which outline severance and other rights.

By law, only your union can represent you in these matters — even if you feel your union isn’t providing adequate assistance. Unfortunately, our firm can’t assist represent employees with severance or wrongful dismissal issues.

Why Samfiru Tumarkin LLP?

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, we’ve helped over 50,000 clients secure fair severance packages — recovering millions of dollars for non-unionized employees across Canada.

With extensive experience representing workers in roles at small businesses and large organizations across various industries, our team provides the expertise you need to navigate your layoff effectively.

We specialize in assisting employees in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia — ensuring their rights are fully protected.

In addition to employment law, our firm handles disability claims and personal injury cases.

Get help today!

Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to get the compensation you’re entitled to.

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

Key resources for Rona employees

• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Severance pay by company
• Severance packages in mass layoffs
• Termination for cause: Why severance may still be owed
• Wrongful dismissal: What it is and how to respond
• Employment rights when a business closes

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized 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, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.

Rona is a Canadian retail company that specializes in home improvement and construction products.

It operates a chain of stores across Canada, offering a wide range of products such as building materials, tools, appliances, and gardening supplies. The company aims to provide customers with the necessary products and expertise to complete their home improvement projects.

Rona operates nearly 500 stores across Canada and employs 26,000 people. It is headquartered in Boucherville, Quebec. Rona offers various job opportunities across its retail locations, distribution centers, and corporate offices.

Some common jobs include store associates, department managers, customer service representatives, sales specialists, operations managers, logistics professionals, and corporate support roles in areas like finance, marketing, and human resources.

The company was founded in 1939 in Boucherville, initially operating as a cooperative of independent hardware retailers. Over the years, Rona acquired several other home improvement retailers, solidifying its position as a leading player in the Canadian market.

In 2016, Rona was bought by Lowe’s, a major home improvement retailer based in the United States. However, Rona stores continue to operate in Canada, with all Lowe’s locations adopting the RONA brand name. On February 3, 2023 Lowe’s (and Rona) was acquired by Sycamore Partners.

Recent layoffs at Rona

• January 2024: Rona is closing distribution centres in Quebec and Alberta — affecting more than 300 jobs.
• June 2023: Rona is cutting 500 jobs across Canada due to a slower economy.

Severance for Rona employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Rona may get up to 24 months of severance pay when they are fired or laid off from their job. This applies to individuals working in any capacity—full-time, part-time, or hourly—in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Contractors may also be entitled to severance pay due to employee misclassification.

Severance is the compensation provided to non-unionized workers in Canada by their employer when they are terminated without cause.

Even if an employee is fired for cause, they may still be eligible for full severance pay. This is due to the high standards required to legally justify for-cause dismissal.

LEARN MORE
• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Severance packages in mass layoffs
• How severance pay works by company

The right to severance pay is consistent regardless of economic conditions, company downsizing, business closures, or significant 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 over the years 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

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

The reality is that severance for non-unionized employees in Canada is calculated using a variety of factors, including age, length of service, position, bonuses, benefits, your employment contract, and your ability to find new work.

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

Before accepting a severance offer, double-check the amount using our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator. It has helped millions of Canadians determine their entitlements.

If your employer’s offer falls short of what our Severance Pay Calculator says you are owed, it’s very likely that you have been wrongfully dismissed and should contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Don’t sign on the dotted line!

Do not accept any severance offer, termination papers, or exit agreement that you receive. Once you sign back these documents, you eliminate your ability to negotiate additional severance pay.

Non-unionized employees in Canada have up to two years from the date of their dismissal to pursue proper severance pay. An employer’s deadline to sign back a severance offer is not legally enforceable or binding.

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 non-unionized 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, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.