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If you have been terminated in Burlington, Ontario it is important to know that you are entitled to a minimum amount of termination or severance pay that is set out by the Ministry of Labor, as well as pay in lieu of notice. If you have been fired, you should no doubt have your termination papers reviewed by a qualified Burlington wrongful dismissal lawyer or employment lawyer who will make sure that you are treated fairly and getting the termination compensation that you deserve.
Our Burlington wrongful termination lawyers will let you know if you have a wrongful dismissal case.
Wrongful dismissal is when an employer terminates an employee without providing that employee with proper, reasonable notice. The primary purpose of reasonable notice is to give you an opportunity and a reasonable period of time to search for another job – but the period of notice is not necessarily equivalent to the period required to find a new job. The obligation of your employer is to give reasonable notice. If your employer does not do so, the employer can be exposed to damages for the loss of salary and benefits that you would have received during the period of reasonable notice.
Proper notice of termination is an “implied” term of the employment contract, but payment in lieu of notice is not – meaning that your employer has to give you enough notice of your termination to allow you to look for work. Your employer can also terminate your employment and pay you money in lieu of notice. If your employer does not provide you notice, nor does your employer pay you in lieu, you will have a case for wrongful dismissal.
Payment in lieu of notice is seen by the Courts as merely an “attempt” to compensate for the employer’s breach of the contract of employment, not as an attempt to comply with an implied term of the contract of employment.
How is severance calculated? How much severance pay am I entitled to?
The determination of how much reasonable notice to provide to you is a very fact-specific exercise and is calculated in accordance with numerous factors. If you go to Court to argue your case, a trial judge is entitled to consider the period of reasonable notice owing to you on the basis of the facts before the court, rather than blindly following cases with different facts.
The facts could be your experience, your age, your length of service, your job duties, whether or not you were a professional, etc. Nevertheless, the court should strive to ensure that notice periods, which are inherently individual, are consistent with existing cases that have been decided before yours.
Why provide payment for notice instead of giving me notice that I will be terminated?
Sometimes, an employer’s obligation to provide reasonable notice can be replaced by providing pay in lieu of reasonable notice. Payment in lieu of notice is technically not an alternative means of lawfully terminating employment. Payment of damages is technically the remedy for failure to provide reasonable notice.
What are some variables that can affect my severance pay?
We can fully explain the variables and your rights that pertain to how your notice should be calculated. There is no precise rule of thumb for calculating compensation; the Ontario guidelines are used to estimate a fair amount. Some variables that are taken into consideration are:
- age
- length of service
- did you have a break in service?
- did you have a specialized job?
- were you a professional?
- were you induced to your current job,
- your education
- your training and experience
- how were you fired?
Consult with a wrongful dismissal lawyer in Burlington before signing any agreement. You may be entitled to more compensation than the minimum required by the Ontario Employment Standards Act. Any service you have given to the company should be rewarded appropriately.
Have you been terminated? Don’t sign anything. Meet with a Burlington wrongful dismissal lawyer to learn your rights and what you may be entitled to.
If you believe you have been wrongfully dismissed, it is important that you have your termination papers reviewed by qualified Burlington wrongful dismissal lawyers. Our experienced employment lawyers in Burlington have been assisting employees with wrongful termination claims since 2003. We can explain your rights in a free consultation at no obligation to you. You can reach us at (905) 333-8888 or speak to our live operator who will help you set up an appointment.
At Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers, we take pride in being trusted Hamilton personal injury lawyers since 2003. Over the years, we’ve helped our clients recover more than $45 Million in settlements and verdicts in personal injury, disability, and employment law cases. Whether you’re dealing with a life-changing injury, a denied disability claim, wrongful death, a hurt child or employment termination, we are here to provide compassionate and experienced legal representation. If you believe you have a case, call us today—we’re ready to help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Call Lalande Personal Injury Lawyers today, no matter where you are in Ontario at 905-333-8888 for your free consultation. Alternatively, you can contact us online, confidentially, by filling out a contact form.
