Wrongful Dismissal

The average person spends almost half of their waking hours every week at their job. Whether you work for a small, family-owned operation or a large, multi-national corporation, you have rights as an employee. If you have recently been terminated and feel that those rights have been violated, you should contact one of our wrongful dismissal lawyers in Vancouver. On this page, you will find helpful information to consider before determining whether a wrongful dismissal case is the right move for you. You can rest assured that we will carefully consider the facts surrounding your case before recommending a course of action.

Notice and Compensation for Termination

If your employment is being terminated by your employer without just cause, they are required to provide you with advanced notice or compensation. Since the passing of the BC Employment Standards Act, the amount of compensation or notice required for an employer to provide is based on your tenure with the company.

• If you were employed consecutively for 3 months, your employer is required to provide at least 1 weeks’ notice or compensation.

• If you were employed consecutively for at least 12 months, your employer is required to provide at least 2 weeks’ notice or compensation.

• If you were employed consecutively for at least 3 years, your employer is required to provide at least 2 weeks’ notice or compensation as well as an additional week’s notice or compensation for each additional year, up to a maximum of 8 weeks.

Please note, however, that employers are not always required to provide you with notice or compensation. The laws in place are intended to create a fair balance between employer and employee. You may not receive compensation or notice if you:

• Have not worked for at least 3 consecutive months

• Quit or retire

• Are dismissed with just cause

• Worked on a temporary or on-call basis

• Were employed for a definite length of time

• Refuse reasonable alternative employment

• Are a teacher employed by a board of trustees

This is not an exclusive list of the instances in which no compensation or notice is required by your employer. That is why it is important to consult with employment lawyers in Vancouver if you feel your rights have been violated.