Severance Pay Canada

What You Need to Know About Severance Pay in Canada

If you are a non-unionized employee in Canada who has been let go or terminated without cause, you are likely entitled to severance pay. This applies whether you lost your job due to restructuring, cost-cutting, downsizing, or nearly any other reason.

Severance pay in Canada is designed to provide financial support while you search for new employment. What many people don’t realize is that your severance entitlements under common law in Canada are often far greater than what is outlined in provincial or federal legislation. In some cases, it can be worth as much as 24 months’ pay.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, Canada’s most positively reviewed employment law firm, we’ve helped over 50,000 individuals secure proper severance pay. Our experienced team understands how to calculate what you’re truly owed and how to push back when employers fall short.

ℹ️ Here’s what you need to know

• Most severance offers are too low: Employers often offer the bare minimum. That doesn’t mean it’s what the law requires.
• Your rights depend on more than just time worked: Factors like age, job title, and re-employment prospects also affect your entitlement.
• Deadlines are pressure tactics: You do not lose your severance rights just because your employer gave you 48 hours to decide.
• You don’t have to navigate this alone: Our lawyers can review your situation and fight for what you’re owed.

Use our Severance Pay Calculator for a quick and anonymous estimate of your potential entitlements. Then speak with our team for a full assessment of your situation.

🎥 WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru breaks down severance pay rights and what most people get wrong when they lose their job.

What to Do if You Receive a Severance Package

Being let go from your job is difficult enough – but figuring out if your severance package is fair can be even more confusing.

Most employees don’t realize that the severance offer they receive from their employer is often far below what they are legally entitled to. Employers may include complex legal language, impose short deadlines, or suggest that the offer is non-negotiable – all of which are designed to pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.

That’s where we come in.

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our severance pay lawyers will carefully review your package and explain your rights clearly. We assess the full picture – including your position, age, length of service, total compensation, and your ability to find new work – to determine what the law actually says you should receive.

✅ Key Things to Remember:

• You don’t have to sign anything right away
• You are not obligated to accept a lowball offer
• Severance packages are negotiable – especially when you get legal advice

Before making a decision, use our Severance Pay Calculator for a basic estimate, and then contact our team to find out what your full entitlements look like.

When Severance Pay is Considered Wrongful Dismissal

Many non-unionized employees believe that if they were let go “without cause,” they must simply accept whatever severance their employer offers. But in Canadian employment law, wrongful dismissal isn’t about how you were let go – it’s about what you were offered when it happened.

If you didn’t receive the full severance pay you’re legally entitled to under common law, your termination may qualify as wrongful dismissal. This is true even if your employer followed minimum standards set by your province’s employment legislation.

🛑 Signs Your Dismissal May Be Wrongful:

• You were given a severance offer that feels too low
• You were told your compensation is “final” or “non-negotiable”
• You were pressured to sign within a short timeframe
• Your employer claimed you were terminated “for cause” without serious misconduct

Wrongful dismissal is one of the most common issues we see – and it’s often resolved without ever going to court. If your employer hasn’t met their legal obligations, we’ll help you challenge the offer and secure what you’re actually owed.

If you didn’t receive the full severance pay you’re legally entitled to under the law.

How Our Severance Lawyers Help You Get What You’re Owed

Once we’ve reviewed your severance offer and identified any gaps, our team gets to work. You don’t have to navigate this process on your own – and you don’t need to start a court case to get results.

Here’s how we help:

1️⃣ We Compare the Offer to Your Legal Entitlement

We calculate what you’re actually owed – and how far off your employer’s offer may be.

2️⃣ We Explain Your Options Clearly

You’ll know exactly where you stand, whether it makes sense to accept, negotiate, or pursue legal action. We answer all your questions – clearly and without pressure.

3️⃣ We Push for a Better Package – Fast

We negotiate directly with your employer, often reaching a better deal within weeks – not months. In most cases, we resolve matters without going to court.

Whether your termination was recent or you’re still weighing an offer, time matters. You have two years from your date of termination to claim full severance pay – and waiting too long could cost you. Contact us now to protect your rights and get the pay you deserve.

Find Province-Specific Severance Pay Info

While severance pay is guided by common law in Canada, your rights can also depend on the province you live in. We’ve created dedicated pages that explain the unique rules and severance entitlements in your region.

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ONTARIO Severance
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Alberta Severance
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BC

Questions About Severance Pay in Canada

These answers apply to non-unionized employees across Canada. For province-specific advice, use the selector above.