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Severance and termination notice calculator

If you are let go without cause, the law sets a minimum amount of notice or pay. Enter your length of service and weekly pay to see your statutory minimum, including severance pay where it applies.

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Minimum you are owed

Enter your details to see the result.

Employment standards notice tables checked October 5, 2026. Statutory minimums for one employee only. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and the territories are not in this calculator yet. Check your province’s labour standards office.

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Key takeaways

  • Notice is usually 1 week after 3 months, growing to a maximum of 8 weeks
  • Your employer can give working notice, pay instead of notice, or a mix
  • Ontario adds severance pay of 1 week per year (up to 26 weeks) after 5 years if the employer’s payroll is $2.5 million or more
  • Federal jobs add severance of 2 days’ pay per year, at least 5 days, after 12 months
  • These are minimums: a court may award more under your contract or common law

Minimum notice by length of service

ServiceONBCABQCMBSKFederal
Under 3 months000 (90 days)01 wk after 30 days0 (13 weeks)0
3 months to 1 year1 wk1 wk1 wk1 wk1 wk1 wk2 wks
1 to 2 years2 wks2 wks1 wk2 wks2 wks2 wks2 wks
2 to 3 years2 wks2 wks2 wks2 wks2 wks2 wks2 wks
3 to 4 years3 wks3 wks2 wks2 wks4 wks4 wks3 wks
4 to 5 years4 wks4 wks4 wks2 wks4 wks4 wks4 wks
5 to 6 years5 wks5 wks4 wks4 wks6 wks6 wks5 wks
6 to 8 years6–7 wks6–7 wks5 wks4 wks6 wks6 wks6–7 wks
8 to 10 years8 wks8 wks6 wks4 wks6 wks6 wks8 wks
10 years or more8 wks8 wks8 wks8 wks8 wks8 wks8 wks

Boundaries differ a little between provinces (for example, Saskatchewan uses “more than 1 year up to 3 years”). The calculator applies each province’s exact wording.

Severance pay is different from notice

Notice (or pay in lieu of notice) is owed in every province. Severance pay is an extra payment that only some laws require:

  • Ontario: if you worked 5 years or more and your employer has a global payroll of at least $2.5 million (or cut 50 or more jobs in 6 months because all or part of the business closed), you get 1 week of regular pay for each full year, plus a share for each completed month of a partial year, up to 26 weeks.
  • Federal jobs: after 12 months, you get the greater of 2 days’ pay for each full year or 5 days’ pay.

Other provinces in this calculator do not have statutory severance pay, but you may still be owed more under common law (civil law in Quebec).

Worked example: Ontario

You worked 7 years and 9 months and earn $1,000 a week. Your employer has a payroll over $2.5 million.

  • Notice: 7 weeks (7 years but less than 8). Pay in lieu: $7,000.
  • Severance: $1,000 × (7 + 9/12) = $7,750. This is the example used in Ontario’s own guide.
  • Total statutory minimum: $14,750, plus any unpaid wages and vacation pay.

Why you may be owed more

Employment standards laws set the floor. Unless your contract has a valid clause that limits you to these minimums, courts in common-law provinces often award “reasonable notice” based on your age, job, years of service and how hard it will be to find similar work. This can be much more than 8 weeks. Before you sign a release or accept a final offer, consider getting legal advice. Many lawyers offer a free first consultation, and legal aid clinics can help if your income is low.

What to do if you lose your job

  1. Ask for your termination letter, record of employment (ROE) and final pay in writing.
  2. Check that your final pay includes unpaid wages, overtime and vacation pay.
  3. Apply for Employment Insurance (EI) right away, even if you are still getting pay in lieu of notice.
  4. Do not sign anything you do not understand.
  5. If you hold a work permit tied to your employer, check how losing your job affects your status. See our work permit guide.

Common questions

Is severance pay the same as termination pay?
No. Termination pay is pay instead of working notice. Severance pay is an extra payment that only some laws require, such as Ontario’s Employment Standards Act for longer-serving employees at larger employers.
Do I get notice if I am fired for cause?
Usually not, if the employer can show serious misconduct such as theft or wilful neglect of duty. The bar is high, and the employer must prove it.
Do I get notice during my probation period?
In most provinces, notice starts after about 3 months of work (30 days in Manitoba, 90 days in Alberta, 13 weeks in Saskatchewan). A “probation period” in your contract cannot remove rights you have under the law.
Is pay in lieu of notice taxable?
Yes. Termination and severance pay are taxable. Your employer may withhold tax at a lump-sum rate. You can reduce tax on a retiring allowance by moving it to your RRSP if you have room.
Can I get EI if I received severance?
Yes, but severance and pay in lieu of notice can delay when your EI payments start. Apply within 4 weeks of your last day of work anyway.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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This calculator shows the minimum rules in employment standards law. It is general information, not legal advice. Your contract, a union agreement or a court can give you more. For your situation, contact your province’s employment standards office or a lawyer.