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If you have been offered a severance package in Calgary, do not sign it until you know its true value. Most employers offer the absolute minimum required by law, often leaving thousands of dollars on the table. At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our specialized severance lawyers have a proven track record of securing maximum payouts for employees in the Calgary area.
The Most Trusted Name in Alberta Employment Law
Why You Need a Specialized Severance Lawyer in Calgary
In the 2026 Calgary job market, corporate restructuring in the energy corridor and tech corridor has led to a surge in layoffs. While many companies claim to provide “generous” packages, they typically only follow the Employment Standards Code (ESC).
As a specialized severance pay lawyer in Calgary, our role is to secure your common law entitlements. In Alberta, common law severance is based on your unique circumstances and can reach as high as 24 months of pay — significantly more than the 8-week provincial maximum.
The 2026 Legal Landscape: New Protections
As of January 1, 2026, Alberta law has been updated to provide 27 weeks of job-protected illness leave. If your severance package was triggered by a medical condition or disability, your employer may owe you additional damages for human rights violations in addition to your standard severance pay. Our team ensures that these latest 2026 protections are factored into your settlement.
How Calgary Severance Pay is Calculated
To ensure you get a fair deal, our lawyers utilize the Bardal Factors. These are the four pillars that Calgary courts use to determine your payout:
- Age: Older employees (especially those 50+) are often entitled to more pay because finding a new role is statistically more difficult.
- Length of Service: Your loyalty to the company is rewarded with a longer “notice period.”
- Character of Employment: Executives and specialized professionals in Calgary’s energy and tech sectors often require longer transition periods.
- Availability of Similar Employment: With the current Calgary unemployment rate near 6.7%, the difficulty of finding a new job increases your severance entitlement.
New 2026 Leave Protections: Fired for Illness?
A major legal shift occurred on January 1, 2026, when Alberta increased job-protected long-term illness and injury leave to 27 weeks. If you were terminated shortly after returning from a medical leave, or while still recovering, you may not only be a victim of wrongful dismissal but also of a human rights violation.
Under current Alberta law, employers have a duty to accommodate employees with disabilities or medical conditions. Terminating an employee simply because their statutory leave has ended is often considered discriminatory. Our Calgary team is at the forefront of enforcing these 2026 standards.
Why Choose a Calgary Severance Pay Lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP?
- The Most Reviewed Firm in Canada: With over 300 5-star Google reviews in Calgary alone, our clients’ results speak for themselves.
- Proven Media Authority: As the hosts of the Employment Law Show on Global TV, we are the firm the media trusts to explain workplace rights.
- National Power, Local Presence: We combine the resources of a national powerhouse with the local expertise of Calgary-based advocates like Jarret Janis.
- No Win, No Fee: We offer contingency fee arrangements where you only pay us once we recover money for you.
Deep Expertise in the Calgary Employment Law
Our Calgary office provides a full network of support for terminated employees:
👉 Employment Lawyers Calgary
Our main hub for all city-specific legal services.
Related Calgary Specialists
If you were fired without a fair payout, see our Wrongful Dismissal Lawyer Calgary page, or visit our Constructive Dismissal Lawyer Calgary page if your job was changed.
Video: How Much Severance Are You Owed?
Lior Samfiru, co-founder of Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, explains the math behind a fair severance package and why you should never accept the first offer.
Frequently Asked Questions: Severance Pay in Calgary
What is the difference between “statutory” and “common law” severance?
Statutory pay is the absolute minimum required by Alberta’s Employment Standards Code (max 8 weeks). Common law is what a judge would award you in court, which is almost always significantly higher (up to 24 months).
Can my employer deny me severance if they fire me “for cause”?
If you are fired “for cause” for serious misconduct, they may attempt to deny severance. However, “cause” is extremely difficult to prove in Calgary. If you were let go for performance issues, you are likely still entitled to full severance pay in Alberta.
Does severance pay include my bonus and benefits?
Yes. A proper severance package should cover all components of your compensation, including health benefits, car allowances, and pro-rated bonuses you would have earned during the notice period.
I worked as a contractor in Calgary. Am I entitled to severance?
Many workers in Calgary’s tech and energy sectors are “misclassified” as independent contractors. If your employer controlled your hours and tools, you may be a “dependent contractor” entitled to full severance pay.
Serving Calgary and Surrounding Areas
We represent employees throughout the city and surrounding bedroom communities, including those seeking an employment lawyer in Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, or Chestermere.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP – Calgary
Address: 888 3rd Street SW
10th Floor
Calgary, AB T2P 5C5
Phone: 1-587-324-0440