If you’re dealing with a workplace problem in Ontario, getting the right legal advice early can protect your job, income and compensation.
The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP help non-unionized employees across Ontario with termination, severance pay, wrongful dismissal, workplace changes, harassment, discrimination, medical leave, employment contracts and other workplace issues.
Since 2007, our firm has represented more than 60,000 clients across Canada and recovered millions in compensation. If you’ve been fired, offered a severance package, pressured to resign or treated unfairly at work, we can explain your rights and what you should do next.
Employment Lawyer Ontario Free Consultation
Looking for a free consultation with an employment lawyer in Ontario?
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP offers free initial consultations for many non-unionized employees dealing with termination, severance pay or wrongful dismissal.
You may qualify for a free consultation if:
- You’ve been fired or let go
- You’ve received a severance package
- Your employer says you’re being terminated for cause
- You’ve been laid off or forced out of your job
- Major changes to your job may amount to constructive dismissal
Other employment matters — including some workplace disputes and employment contract reviews — may require a paid consultation. We’ll let you know about any consultation fee before you proceed.
Find out if we can help. Contact us today or call 1-855-821-5900.
Conditions apply. Free consultations aren’t available for all case types.
Why Employees Across Ontario Choose Us
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60,000+ Clients Represented
We've helped tens of thousands of people protect their employment and disability rights across Canada since 2007. -
3,000+ Five-Star Google Reviews
Thousands of clients have shared their experience with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, making us one of Canada's most-reviewed employment law firms. -
Millions Recovered for Employees
Our lawyers have recovered millions in severance pay and other compensation for employees across Ontario.
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Employment Law Is a Core Focus
Our employment lawyers deal with termination, severance, workplace disputes and employee rights every day. -
No Upfront Fees in Many Cases
Contingency fee arrangements are available for appropriate cases. When they apply, you don't pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. -
Ontario Experience, National Knowledge
With offices in Toronto and Ottawa and a large employment law team, we represent non-unionized employees throughout Ontario.
What Our Ontario Employment Lawyers Can Help You With
Our Ontario employment lawyers advise and represent non-unionized employees across a wide range of workplace issues.
Severance Pay
Have your severance package reviewed before you accept it. You could be owed considerably more than your employer has offered.
Wrongful Dismissal
If you’ve been fired without proper compensation, we can determine what you’re actually owed and pursue additional severance.
Constructive Dismissal
A significant change to your pay, duties, hours, location or working conditions can amount to a termination, even if your employer hasn’t formally fired you.
Termination For Cause
Being accused of misconduct doesn’t automatically mean you’ve lost your right to severance. The legal threshold for cause is high.
Employment Contracts
We review job offers and employment agreements before you sign and determine how existing contracts affect your rights after termination.
Workplace Harassment & Discrimination
We help employees understand their options when they face harassment, discrimination, retaliation or other serious workplace treatment.
Medical Leave & Accommodation
If illness or disability affects your ability to work, we can explain your rights to medical leave, accommodation and a safe return to work.
Major Changes to Your Job
Pay cuts, demotions, reduced hours, relocations, temporary layoffs and substantial changes to your duties can have serious legal consequences.
Other Employment Issues
Our lawyers also advise employees on performance reviews, probation, overtime, bonuses and commissions, independent contractor classification, restrictive clauses and other workplace disputes.
Meet Our Ontario Employment Lawyers
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has one of Canada's largest employment law teams. Our Ontario employment lawyers advise and represent non-unionized employees facing termination, severance disputes, workplace changes, harassment, discrimination and other employment issues. Meet some of the lawyers helping employees throughout Ontario.
View Our Full Team
Employment Lawyers Serving Employees Across Ontario
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP represents non-unionized employees throughout Ontario.
With offices in Toronto and Ottawa, our employment lawyers help employees in large cities, smaller communities and everywhere in between. You don’t need to live close to one of our offices to get legal advice from our team.
Find employment law help in your community:
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- London
- Windsor
- Hamilton
- Burlington
- Mississauga
- Brampton
- Markham
- Barrie
- Kingston
- Peterborough
Don’t see your city? Contact us. Our Ontario employment lawyers serve employees across the province.
Know Your Workplace Rights in Ontario
Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) and the common law both protect employees — but the ESA is only the bare minimum. Many Ontarians are owed several times more than they realize.
Below is a clear overview of the key workplace rights we help employees understand and enforce.
Termination Without Cause in Ontario
In Ontario, most employees can be let go without cause — but they must receive proper severance pay. If an employer fires you without a valid reason, that is not misconduct. What matters is whether you received the full amount you’re owed.
You may be owed significantly more than the ESA minimums.
👉 Read more: Termination Without Cause in Ontario
Wrongful Dismissal in Ontario
A wrongful dismissal happens when you are:
- fired without proper severance, or
- pressured or forced to quit
Most wrongful dismissals involve insufficient severance, not misconduct allegations. Even long-serving employees are often told they only receive “two weeks” — which is almost always incorrect.
👉 Learn more: Wrongful Dismissal Ontario
Severance Pay in Ontario
Severance pay depends on your:
- age
- position
- length of service
- ability to find new work
Most Ontarians are owed much more than the ESA minimums. Many receive up to 24 months’ pay.
📲 Use our tool: Severance Pay Calculator
Constructive Dismissal in Ontario
Your employer can’t make major changes to your job without your consent. These changes can be treated as a termination, and you may be owed severance.
Examples include:
- cutting your pay
- reducing your hours
- changing your duties
- laying you off
- relocating you
- creating a toxic environment
👉 Learn more: Constructive Dismissal Ontario
Harassment and Toxic Work Environments
Ontario employees have the right to a workplace free from harassment, discrimination, and bullying. Employers must:
- investigate complaints properly
- protect your safety
- prevent retaliation
If they don’t, we can explain your options and next steps.
Discrimination and Human Rights Violations
Ontario’s Human Rights Code protects workers from discrimination based on:
- disability (physical or mental)
- age
- sex
- pregnancy / family status
- race, ethnicity, religion
- gender identity
- sexual orientation
If your rights are violated, we can help you navigate a human rights claim or severance negotiation.
Medical Leave, Sick Leave & Disability-Related Rights
You can’t be fired for taking a legitimate medical leave. Employers must:
- accommodate medical restrictions
- respect approved leave
- avoid penalizing you for illness
If your employer is pressuring you to return early, or changing your job while you’re off, we can help you understand your rights.
Employment Contracts in Ontario
Before signing a new job offer, it’s important to understand your contract. Many Ontario employees unknowingly sign agreements that limit their severance or reduce legal rights.
We review contracts involving:
- termination clauses
- non-compete agreements
- non-solicitation clauses
- bonus plans
- variable compensation
- probation
👉 Learn more: Employment Contract Lawyers Ontario
Ontario Employment Law: Success Stories
$157,000 Win for Fixed-Term Employee
We proved an illegal termination clause, securing 101 weeks of pay for our client who worked as a youth coordinator.
33-Year Hygienist Awarded 24 Months’ Pay
After wrongful dismissal, we won 24 months’ compensation plus legal costs.
Senior Director Wins 4-Month Severance
A lowball offer was overturned, resulting in $45,000+ pay and costs.
What To Do If You’re Fired or Facing Workplace Issues in Ontario
Here’s a simple plan to protect your rights:
- Don’t sign anything
Don’t accept a severance offer or resignation agreement until you know your entitlements. - Document what happened
Keep emails, messages, and notes. These details matter. - Contact us for advice
We’ll explain whether the offer is fair and what you’re legally owed.
How Our Ontario Employment Lawyers Help You
Step 1 — Tell Us What Happened
Contact our team and explain your workplace situation. We’ll determine the appropriate next step and whether we can assist.
Step 2 — Understand Your Rights
An employment lawyer can review the relevant documents, explain your legal options and tell you what you may be entitled to.
Step 3 — We Deal With Your Employer
If you hire us to represent you, we can communicate and negotiate directly with your employer or their lawyer on your behalf.
Step 4 — We Work Toward a Resolution
Many employment disputes can be resolved through early negotiation or mediation. When legal action is necessary, our lawyers can represent you through the litigation process.
Employment Law Resources for Ontario Employees
Workplace Rights & Protections
Contracts & Workplace Changes
What Our Ontario Clients Say
Real Google reviews from employees we've helped with workplace issues across Ontario.
FAQs About Employment Lawyers in Ontario
➡️ What does an employment lawyer do in Ontario?
An employment lawyer helps employees understand and enforce their workplace rights. This can include reviewing severance packages and employment contracts, negotiating with employers, handling wrongful or constructive dismissal claims, addressing harassment or discrimination, and providing advice about major changes to your job.
➡️ When should I contact an employment lawyer?
Speak with an employment lawyer as soon as a serious workplace issue arises. This is particularly important if you’ve been fired, received a severance offer, been accused of misconduct, experienced a major change to your job or are considering resigning.
Getting advice before you sign documents or make major decisions can help protect your rights.
➡️ Are employment lawyers free in Ontario?
Some employment lawyers offer free consultations for certain types of cases, but not every employment matter qualifies.
At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, many non-unionized employees dealing with termination, severance or wrongful dismissal can receive a free initial consultation. Other matters may require a paid consultation. We’ll tell you about any fee before you proceed.
➡️ How much does an employment lawyer cost in Ontario?
The cost depends on the type of employment issue and how the lawyer handles the case.
Some matters involve an initial consultation fee. Other cases may qualify for a contingency fee arrangement, where legal fees are paid from money recovered for you.
Before hiring an employment lawyer, make sure you understand how fees will work in your particular case.
➡️ How much severance am I owed in Ontario?
Severance can depend on factors including your age, position, length of service and the availability of similar employment.
Your employer may only offer the minimum required by Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, even though you could be entitled to considerably more under common law. In appropriate cases, severance can reach as much as 24 months’ pay.
➡️ Can my employer fire me without cause in Ontario?
Yes. Most non-unionized employees can be terminated without cause, but the employer generally has to provide proper notice or compensation.
Being fired without cause doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong.
➡️ Can my employer reduce my pay or significantly change my job?
A major change to your pay, duties, hours, location or other fundamental terms of employment can amount to constructive dismissal.
Don’t resign or accept a major change before getting legal advice. Your response to the change can affect your rights.
➡️ Can an employment lawyer represent a unionized employee?
Generally, no. Unionized employees usually have to resolve workplace disputes through their union and the grievance process under their collective agreement.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP’s employment lawyers represent non-unionized employees.
Speak to an Employment Lawyer in Ontario
If you’ve been fired, offered a severance package, pressured to resign or are dealing with a serious workplace problem, get legal advice before making a decision that could affect your rights.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP’s employment lawyers represent non-unionized employees throughout Ontario, with offices in Toronto and Ottawa and lawyers serving communities across the province.