Wrongful dismissal and severance, unpaid wages, harassment and human rights at work. Most workers are covered by their province's employment standards law; federally regulated employers come under the Canada Labour Code.
The rules depend on your province, so the points below are set out province by province.
Lawyers whose own published profile focuses on employment work. Each lawyer was checked on their provincial law society's public directory before being listed — check again before you hire, as people move firms.
Ed Canning · Partner, Employment Law · Hamilton
1 King Street West, 10th Floor, Hamilton, ON L8P 1A4
Has practised employment law in Hamilton for over three decades, acting for employers and employees on wrongful dismissal, employment contracts, employment standards and human rights matters. He wrote an employment law column in the Hamilton Spectator for 30 years. The firm also covers family law, real estate, wills and estates, and personal injury.
Scott Chambers · Partner · Kelowna
537 Leon Avenue, Suite 200, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A9
Partner practising employment law and civil litigation; in employment matters he acts for employees. The firm also covers family law, residential real estate, wills and estate planning, and personal injury.
Yola S. Ventresca · Managing Partner, London office · London
85 Dufferin Avenue, London, ON N6A 4G4
Managing partner of the firm's London office. Her practice covers labour and employment law, human rights, workplace investigations, professional regulation and health law. The firm also has a personal injury practice.
Marty Rabinovitch · Lawyer, Employment Law · Toronto
95 Barber Greene Road, Suite 100, Toronto, ON M3C 3E9
Practises employment, labour and human rights law along with commercial litigation, including cases before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The firm's other practice groups cover family law, immigration, real estate, wills and estates, and personal injury.
Greg Bartel · Partner · Winnipeg
240 Graham Avenue, Suite 724, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0J7
Partner practising mainly labour and employment law. He helps people in unionized and non-unionized workplaces with termination of employment, including wrongful dismissal and severance package advice, employment contracts and human rights issues. The firm also covers residential real estate, and wills and estates.
Lauren M. Pearson · Partner · Edmonton
10180 101 Street NW, Suite 2300, Edmonton, AB T5J 1V3
Partner practising employment law and litigation, acting for both employees and employers. The firm also covers family law, residential real estate, and wills and estates.
Samuel I. Schonhoffer · Partner · Regina
1914 Hamilton Street, Suite 700, Regina, SK S4P 3N6
Partner with a labour and employment law practice that represents trade unions and individual workers in non-unionized workplaces. The firm's services for employees include wrongful dismissal actions, human rights proceedings and negotiating severance packages, and it also covers family law, and wills and estates.
Andrew Montague-Reinholdt · Partner, Employment and Labour Law · Ottawa
50 O'Connor Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2
Partner who leads the firm's employment and labour law groups. He acts for employees and unions on wrongful dismissal claims, contract negotiations, human rights, professional discipline and grievance arbitration. The firm (Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP) also covers family law, personal injury, real estate and estates.
Sharon Cartmill-Lane · Managing Director, Employment & Labour · Victoria
19 Dallas Road, Suite 201, Victoria, BC V8V 5A6
Managing director of the firm, practising employment and human rights law and conducting workplace investigations. Her firm says she has more than 25 years' experience and has been called to the bar in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. The firm also covers family law, real estate, wills and estates, and personal injury.
An Employment Standards Act claim to the Ministry of Labour must generally be filed within two years. In most cases a court claim can't be filed more than two years after the dismissal. A human rights application must be filed within one year of the last incident. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
You have to choose: you can't file a claim with the Ministry and also sue in court over the same issue, and if you file a claim and change your mind you have two weeks to withdraw it. The Ministry enforces the minimums in the Employment Standards Act. A court can award 'reasonable notice', which is often more — so get advice before you file or sign a release.
The Employment Standards Act sets minimums: notice of termination of one to eight weeks depending on your length of service, plus severance pay if you have five or more years' service and your employer's payroll is at least $2.5 million. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Ministry of Labour claims and Human Rights Tribunal applications are filed online. Lawsuits go to the Superior Court of Justice, or to its Small Claims Court branch for claims up to $50,000.
To practise law in Ontario a lawyer must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, which also licenses paralegals. You can look up anyone in the Law Society's public Lawyer and Paralegal Directory, which shows their status and any discipline history. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
An employment standards complaint must be filed within six months of your last day of work. The BC Human Rights Tribunal has a one-year time limit. BC's basic limitation period for a court claim, including wrongful dismissal, is two years. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The Employment Standards Act minimum is one week's notice or pay after three months, two weeks after 12 months and three weeks after three years, plus one more week for each additional year to a maximum of eight weeks. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Employment standards complaints go to the Employment Standards Branch and human rights complaints to the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Lawsuits up to $35,000 can go to the Provincial Court's small claims division, and larger claims to the Supreme Court.
To practise law in British Columbia a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of British Columbia. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Directory, which shows their practising status and any discipline history. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
An employment standards complaint can be made up to six months after your last day of employment. A human rights complaint must be made within one year. The time limit for a court claim, including wrongful dismissal, is generally two years. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The Employment Standards Code minimum is one week after more than 90 days' employment, two weeks after two years, four weeks after four years, five weeks after six years, six weeks after eight years and eight weeks after ten years or more; no notice is required in the first 90 days. Your employer can give notice, pay instead, or a mix of both. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Employment standards complaints go to Alberta Employment Standards and discrimination complaints to the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $100,000 can go to the Alberta Court of Justice, and larger claims to the Court of King's Bench.
To practise law in Alberta a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Alberta. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Directory, which shows whether they are currently practising and any discipline history back to 1 January 2015. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
A complaint about unpaid wages must be made to Employment Standards within 12 months of the last day the wages were payable. A human rights complaint must be made within one year of the incident. A court claim, including wrongful dismissal, must be started within two years from the day the claim is discovered. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The minimum written notice (or pay instead) is one week if you have worked there for more than 13 weeks, two weeks after one year, four weeks after three years, six weeks after five years and eight weeks after ten years. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Employment standards complaints go to Saskatchewan's Employment Standards office and discrimination complaints to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $50,000 can go to the Provincial Court's small claims court, and larger claims to the Court of King's Bench.
To practise law in Saskatchewan a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public directory, which shows where they practise and has a discipline column; the Law Society also publishes its discipline decisions. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Concerns about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
A claim to the Employment Standards Branch should be filed within six months of your last day of work or of the incident. A human rights complaint must be filed within one year. A court claim, including wrongful dismissal, must be started within two years of the day it is discovered. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The minimum notice from an employer is one week after 30 days' employment, two weeks after one year, four weeks after three years, six weeks after five years and eight weeks after ten years; no notice is needed in the first 30 days. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Employment standards claims go to the Employment Standards Branch and human rights complaints to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $20,000 can go to Small Claims Court, and larger claims to the Court of King's Bench.
To practise law in Manitoba a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Manitoba. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Lookup, which shows their practising status and, under their practice history, any discipline history or restriction. Each lawyer on these pages was checked there before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
A labour standards complaint must be received within six months of the incident. A human rights complaint must be filed within 12 months of the last date of discrimination. A court claim, including wrongful dismissal, must be started within two years of the day it is discovered. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The Labour Standards Code minimum is one week after three months' employment, two weeks after two years, four weeks after five years and eight weeks after ten years. An employee with ten or more years of service cannot be fired without just cause. Unless your contract validly limits you to the minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Labour standards complaints go to the Labour Standards Division and human rights complaints to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $25,000 can go to the Small Claims Court, and larger claims to the Supreme Court.
To practise law in Nova Scotia a lawyer must be a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. You can look up any lawyer in the Society's public lawyer search to check their status and to see whether they have been formally disciplined. Each lawyer on these pages was checked there before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Society.
A human rights complaint must be filed within 12 months of the alleged violation. A court claim, including wrongful dismissal, must be started within two years of the day it is discovered. Employment standards complaints have their own deadline — ask the Employment Standards office. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The Employment Standards Act minimum is two weeks' written notice if you have worked for the employer for at least six months but less than five years, and four weeks after five years or more; the employer can pay the wages instead. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Employment standards complaints go to the province's Employment Standards office and human rights complaints to the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $20,000 can go to the Small Claims Court, and larger claims to the Court of King's Bench.
To practise law in New Brunswick a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of New Brunswick. You can look up any practising lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Search, and it publishes a list of complaints referred to its Discipline Committee. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in the Lawyer Search before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
A labour standards complaint after your job ends must be filed within six months of the termination date. A human rights complaint must be made within 12 months. Court claims have their own limitation periods under the Limitations Act — ask a lawyer which applies. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The minimum written notice (or pay instead) is one week after three months' employment, two weeks after two years, three weeks after five years, four weeks after ten years and six weeks after fifteen years; none is required in the first three months. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Labour standards complaints go to the province's labour standards office and human rights complaints to the Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $25,000 can go to the Provincial Court's small claims court, and larger claims to the Supreme Court.
To practise law in Newfoundland and Labrador a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Its online Lawyer Directory lists the lawyers practising in the province with their contact details, and the Law Society publishes its disciplinary decisions. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in the directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society, in writing.
Under the Employment Standards Act that came into force on 30 June 2026, a complaint must be delivered to the chief inspector within two years of the alleged contravention. A human rights complaint must be made within one year. Court claims have their own limitation periods — ask a lawyer which applies. If your employer is federally regulated (a bank, airline or telecom company, for example), an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code must be filed within 90 days.
The minimum notice from an employer (or pay instead) is one week after 90 days' continuous employment, two weeks after one year, four weeks after five years, six weeks after ten years and eight weeks after fifteen years; none is required in the first 90 days. Unless your contract validly limits you to those minimums, a court may award more based on your age, role, length of service and how long it should take to find similar work.
Employment standards complaints go to the Employment Standards Branch and human rights complaints to the PEI Human Rights Commission. Lawsuits up to $16,000 can go to the Small Claims Section of the Supreme Court, and larger claims to its General Section.
To practise law in Prince Edward Island a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island. You can look up practising lawyers in the Law Society's online lawyer directory to verify their status, and it publishes discipline case summaries. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in the directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society, in writing.