Executive Severance Packages in Ontario
Strategic legal advice for executives, directors, VPs, and C-suite leaders.
Executives in Ontario face unique challenges when leaving an organization. Whether you’re a C-suite leader, VP, director, or senior manager, your severance package must fairly reflect your contributions, responsibilities, and contractual rights.
Many executives are entitled to far more than a standard severance payment. Your package may include bonuses, equity, stock options, LTIPs, STIPs, commissions, deferred compensation, benefits, restrictive covenants, and other executive-level entitlements.
If you’ve been offered an executive severance package or believe you didn’t receive what you’re owed, an employment lawyer can help you:
- Understand your rights under Ontario law
- Review your employment contract and executive compensation plan
- Identify missing compensation
- Negotiate a stronger executive severance offer
- Challenge unfair terms, including non-compete and non-solicitation clauses
Before signing anything, get your executive severance package reviewed.
Executives often receive significantly more than the initial offer.
Why Executive Severance Is Different
Executive-level severance packages typically involve:
- Base compensation
- Bonuses (annual, quarterly, performance-based)
- LTIPs and STIPs
- Stock options, RSUs, and equity compensation
- Deferred compensation
- Commissions and incentive pay
- Extended benefits
- Pension or retirement plan impacts
- Restrictive covenants (non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality, non-disparagement)
Mistakes at this level can cost six figures or more. Employers frequently underpay severance or impose overly broad restrictive covenants.
Our role is to review what you’ve been offered and secure the full value you’re entitled to under Ontario law.
What You May Be Entitled to as an Executive
Executives are often owed substantially more than other employees due to:
- Length of service
- Senior leadership responsibilities
- Organizational reliance
- Contract terms
- Total compensation structure
You may also be eligible for:
- ✔ Extended notice or pay in lieu
- ✔ Full or prorated bonus entitlements
- ✔ Equity compensation payouts (RSUs, stock options)
- ✔ Continuation of benefits
- ✔ Payment of outstanding commissions or incentives
If your employer claims you’re not eligible or tries to use a termination clause to limit your severance, we can help.
Restrictive Covenants: What Executives Must Watch For
Your package may include:
- Non-compete clauses
- Non-solicitation clauses
- Confidentiality obligations
- Non-disparagement clauses
- Post-employment restrictions on clients, staff, or markets
Many of these clauses are unenforceable or overly broad under Ontario law.
We review these provisions to protect your future career options, especially when transitioning to a competitor or launching your own venture.
How We Help Executives
We provide strategic advice on:
- ✔ Reviewing executive severance packages
- ✔ Identifying missing entitlements (bonuses, equity, benefits)
- ✔ Negotiating significantly higher severance offers
- ✔ Challenging restrictive covenants
- ✔ Advising on reputational protection and transition strategy
Our goal is to secure the best possible exit financially and professionally.
“Executives often have more at stake when negotiating severance from compensation to reputation. At Achkar Law, we help protect your rights and ensure you don’t leave anything on the table. Speak to a lawyer before signing anything.”
— Christopher Achkar, Employment Lawyer
Speak With an Ontario Executive Severance Lawyer
Your executive severance package can shape your financial stability and career path. Before signing any agreement, get advice that protects your interests.
Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our Experienced Employment Lawyers
Contact us by phone toll-free at 1-866-471-5098 or email us at [email protected], and we will be happy to assist.