Employment Law Show: Alberta & B.C. – S7 E03

Episode Summary

Can you be forced to work unpaid? What is a termination clause? Employment Lawyer Lior Samfiru, Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP answers these questions and more on the Employment Law Show. 

LISTEN BELOW to Western Canada’s only radio show about your employment rights in the workplace, every Sunday at 4 p.m. PT on 980 CKNW in Vancouver, and 5 p.m. MT on 770 CHQR in Calgary and 640 CHED in Edmonton, as the show takes calls from listeners and provide vital answers to employees and employers.

Listen to the Episode

Show Notes

• Employee fired for missing unpaid meetings: Employers cannot require employees to work without being paid. It is very difficult for an employer to terminate an employee “for cause”. Employers are permitted to terminate an employee for any reason, as long as adequate severance pay is given.  Employees that have been fired for enforcing their rights will be owed additional damages along with severance pay.
• An employee found an employment ad for their position: Employees that feel they are about to be terminated unfortunately cannot prevent their employer from letting them go. Employees should continue to work and perform their daily tasks. In the event a termination does occur, employees should then seek legal advice from an employment lawyer concerning their severance.
• Minimum severance entitlements: Many employees mistakenly believe they are only owed their minimum severance entitlements upon termination. Before agreeing to a severance offer, or seeking advice from the government, employees should seek legal advice from an employment lawyer.
• The termination clause in an employment contract: Before agreeing to sign an employment contract, employees should seek counsel from an employment lawyer. Employment contracts can contain terms that limit the rights of an employee and protect the rights of an employer. Termination clauses can limit the amount of severance an employee is owed upon termination.

Need an employment lawyer?

• Pocket Employment Lawyer: Before you call a lawyer, use the Pocket Employment Lawyer to find out if you might have a case. 
• Severance Pay Calculator: Discover how much severance pay you should get when you lose your job, used successfully by nearly 2 million Canadians. 
• Watch our TV Shows: Get further clarity on your rights by watching our popular TV show episodes.