Lay-offs
Know Your Rights During a Lay-Off
Being laid off can create uncertainty about your career and financial future, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Workplace Sage Legal, we ensure you understand your rights and options, providing clear advice during this difficult time. This page explains employee rights in Ontario when a lay-off occurs and when a lay-off may legally amount to a termination.
Whether your lay-off is temporary or permanent, we offer support to clarify your options, secure fair compensation, and explore next steps. Our empathetic and strategic approach ensures that you feel confident, informed, and empowered to take control of your future.
What We Offer
- Lay-Off Notice Review
We carefully review your lay-off notice to ensure it complies with employment laws and protects your rights. Our thorough analysis helps identify any gaps or issues that could affect your entitlements. - Advice on Temporary Lay-Offs
If your lay-off is temporary, we provide clear guidance on your recall rights, timelines, and options for addressing concerns. We help you explore strategies to ensure a fair resolution. - Permanent Lay-Off Guidance
For permanent lay-offs, we focus on securing severance packages and entitlements that reflect your contributions and meet legal standards. We work with you to achieve the best possible outcome. - Support During Disputes
If your lay-off leads to a dispute, we provide calm and professional representation to resolve conflicts effectively. We advocate for your rights while minimizing stress and uncertainty.
- Lay-Off Notice Review
We carefully review your lay-off notice to ensure it complies with employment laws and protects your rights. Our thorough analysis helps identify any gaps or issues that could affect your entitlements. - Advice on Temporary Lay-Offs
If your lay-off is temporary, we provide clear guidance on your recall rights, timelines, and options for addressing concerns. We help you explore strategies to ensure a fair resolution. - Permanent Lay-Off Guidance
For permanent lay-offs, we focus on securing severance packages and entitlements that reflect your contributions and meet legal standards. We work with you to achieve the best possible outcome. - Support During Disputes
If your lay-off leads to a dispute, we provide calm and professional representation to resolve conflicts effectively. We advocate for your rights while minimizing stress and uncertainty.
Lay-offs: Your Rights as an Ontario Employee
Clear answers for Ontario employees facing a temporary or indefinite layoff, including when a layoff may legally become a termination.
A layoff occurs when an Ontario employer temporarily stops providing work while saying the employment relationship continues. Under the Employment Standards Act, layoffs are only allowed in specific, limited circumstances. If those conditions are not met, the law may treat the layoff as a termination, even if the employer describes it as temporary.
Only in certain situations. If your employment contract specifically allows layoffs, or if layoffs have been a long-standing and accepted practice in your workplace, your employer may have the right to impose one. Without those factors, a layoff may legally amount to constructive dismissal for Ontario employees.
Ontario law limits how long a layoff can last within a defined time period. If a layoff exceeds those limits, the employee is generally deemed terminated and may become entitled to notice or severance pay. Many employees are unaware when a layoff quietly crosses this legal threshold.
A temporary layoff is meant to pause work while preserving the employment relationship. A termination permanently ends employment and triggers severance obligations. When a layoff does not meet legal requirements, Ontario law may treat it as a termination regardless of the employer’s intention.
If the layoff becomes a termination, or if the employer never had the legal right to lay you off in the first place, you may be entitled to termination pay, severance pay, or both. Entitlements depend on factors such as length of service, role, and compensation.
Many Ontario employees apply for Employment Insurance during a layoff. Applying for EI does not mean you are agreeing that the layoff is lawful. EI eligibility and employment law rights are separate issues.
Why Choose Us?
At Workplace Sage Legal, we are committed to empowering our clients through compassionate, informed, and thoughtful legal support. We understand that the decisions you make during this time may have a lasting impact on your financial and professional future. With our calm and empathetic approach, we turn stressful situations into manageable ones, guiding you with clarity and care every step of the way.
You don’t have to face this journey alone. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take control of your career transition. Together, we’ll transform your challenges and you leave with confidence, clarity, and a clear path forward.
