Termination and Severance Pay

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We Are Skilled Severance and Termination Lawyers

Dismissed? Fired? Laid off? Have you been asked to accept/sign a severance offer? Wait, don’t sign! The first offer from your employer is rarely, if ever, fair. Employers often offer the minimum entitlements under the Employment Standards Act and hope you’ll go away. By accepting it, you could be forfeiting thousands of dollars in entitlements under common law, not to mention potential damages based on your employer’s actions.

Our severance lawyers are here to safeguard your interests and negotiate the best possible outcome for you.

Despite what your employer may say about you needing to sign, that is simply not true. In fact, you have two years to claim your severance. But once you sign and accept the severance package, you cannot later claim additional severance under the common law. This could be many thousands of dollars.

Before you sign, have us review your severance offer and the circumstances of your dismissal to ensure you receive your full entitlements.

Employers often exploit your stress during these difficult times to pay you less severance or termination pay than you are entitled to. Unfortunately, they often succeed because:

Paying you less than you are entitled to is wrong. It violates your employment rights and hampers your ability to transition smoothly into a new position.

We’ll clearly outline what you can expect. Employment contracts often contain things that are not enforceable.

The difference can be many months of additional severance pay.

Depending on your situation, judges can award you even more than what the Employment Standards Act entitles you to. This is known as Common Law Severance Pay. You may also be awarded damages depending on your employer’s conduct.

Why Choose Achkar Law?

Legal Expertise
Our team specializes in employment law, ensuring you receive top-notch representation.

Tailored Strategies
Each case is unique. We customize our approach to address your particular circumstances.

Fearless Advocacy
We fearlessly take on even the most formidable employers to protect your rights.

Client-Centric Focus
Your needs and interests always come first, guiding our every action with compassion and dedication.

Local Advantage
With a deep understanding of Ontario’s employment laws via many years of experience, we provide an edge in your case.

Transparent Communication
We believe in clear and open communication. You’ll always be informed about the progress of your case.

Empowered Decision-Making
We equip you with the knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding your future.

We’re among the top-rated employment law firms in Ontario with an exceptional track record of positive outcomes. See our outstanding Google Reviews further down this page.

What Our Clients Are Saying

So glad I came here! I got the clarity I needed to deal with the issues I was facing. The lawyers here are extremely professional and knowledgeable.
Excellent consultation; detailed, thorough, and compassionate.
I found this amazing law firm online and have been happy with the service from the start. Charles Millar was extremely knowledgeable and extraordinarily generous with his time. His compassion and passion were evident and I appreciated his thoroughness. I cannot recommend this firm more highly.
I found this employment law firm among many others on the web. This one and Abby Richardson in particular was particularly emphatic, exceedingly prompt, polite and highly professional. I would highly recommend them for any legal ‘employment matter.
I had a wonderful experience speaking with the team at Achkar Law. They were thorough, kind and patient with all my questions. I highly recommend them.
I highly recommend this Law Firm
Great experience would recommend them!
My experience with Achklaw was amazing!
They listened to me throughly and answered
all my questions with a high degree of effectiveness
and immense care. Consequently, the time I spent there was extremely helpful and valuable.
I recently had a consultation with Charles about a tricky accommodation situation with my employer. He gave clear, honest, and practical advice that helped me understand both the legal side and the bigger picture. I really appreciated his knowledge of employment and human rights law, his straightforward talk about possible outcomes, and the fact that he respected my goals. He didn’t push expensive legal action — instead, he focused on giving me the information I needed to make the right decisions. Highly recommend if you’re looking for strong, real-world legal advice. (Tip: check out his webinars too — they’re really helpful!)
Extremely impressed with the team at Achkar Law! It was a pleasure dealing with Chris and his outstanding team. The entire team was prompt when responding to my enquiries and were very easy to work with.

I encourage anyone looking for an employment lawyer to contact Achkar Law, they will not be disappointed!
Recently, I contacted Achkar Law about a legal matter involving our company and I booked a one hour consultation to discuss our case in detail. I had a Zoom call with Filip, (it is so much easier than fighting traffic and meeting in a physical office) who is one of the Partners of the firm and he was able to give me some really excellent advice. All the issues and procedures, as well as expected costs, were clearly outlined by Filip, who has a calm disposition as opposed to myself, whom I am told can get excited while debating. This is why it is always advisable to retain professional legal representation as litigants tend to get emotional if they represent themselves.

I feel that our position on the matter was well understood by Filip at Achkar Law as he had read over our file before the Zoom meeting and had a good grasp of the issues involved. Legal matters are always quite stressful but we were put at ease when we discussed our case with him. After our meeting we decided to retain their services, and I was then able to relax knowing that we had the legal professionals of Achkar Law on our side protecting our legal interests.

I therefore recommend Achkar Law without hesitation.
Spoke with Charles on an employment law matter and the whole process from contacting the firm to the session itself was seemless and professional. Charles is knowledgeable and was quite helpful. I would definitely recommend Achlar Law for friends and Family.
Excellent transaction. Spoke to Madison, she was empathetic, knowledgeable, very thorough and detailed. I highly recommend this Law Firm. Very happy with my choice.
Chris and the team was professional, supportive, and truly cared about my case. Highly recommend their expertise in employment law. 5 stars
It was a very pleasant experience dealing with Achkar Law lawyers. They were able to review my case and provide me with my legal rights and important information. What I liked the most was the quick response and professionalism.

Call Us Now. We're Happy to Assist You Today.

Toronto Office

(647) 946-6440

Ottawa Office

(613) 699-0018

Ontario (Toll Free)

1 (800) 771-7882

Severance FAQs

What is a reasonable severance package in Canada?

A reasonable severance package in Canada varies substantially based on the circumstances of the employee. While there are many factors which can contribute to the calculation of a reasonable package, there are common factors which are typically considered, known as the Bardal factors.

Do I need a lawyer to negotiate severance?

Employees can try to negotiate alone, but almost always, a lawyer can get them more. Seeking the advice of an experienced employment lawyer helps a dismissed employee understand whether the severance package they are offered is reasonable in comparison with what a judge will likely give them.

How do I get a good severance package?

An employment lawyer is likely in the best position to assess the appropriate severance package of an employee who has been let go. A good lawyer will know how and when to negotiate, and when to initiate a Statement of Claim to get defendants to pay you through settlement or a court order.

Is termination of employment the same as being fired?

Yes – having your employment terminated by your employer is the same as being fired or let go. A termination of employment is either with or without cause, which affects whether or not you are entitled to termination pay. Sometimes employers try to claim that a termination is for cause when it is not. Wrongful dismissal is when an employee is told they are in fact fired or dismissed.

What are my rights if my employment is terminated?

As an employee, if your employment is terminated without cause – that is, through no fault of your own, you are entitled to termination pay, or common law reasonable notice or pay in lieu. If you are an employee and have been terminated, contact an experienced employment lawyer to help assess your case.

Can an employer fire you for no reason in Ontario?

In Ontario, employers are able to dismiss an employee without reason – as long as the reason is not related to Human Rights. Employers have to provide the appropriate amount of notice or termination pay to the dismissed employee. The appropriate amount of notice will largely depend on the employment agreement if applicable, and if not, on common law reasonable notice.