Six years on the job in Ontario at $1,200 a week means you’re owed at least six weeks of notice or pay, which is $7,200. If your employer’s payroll is $2.5 million or more, statutory severance adds another $7,200. Pick your province, enter your service and pay, and you’ll see your legal minimum.
How much notice do I get for my years of service?
Employment standards laws set a minimum and nothing more. Your employer either gives working notice or pays the equivalent wages, called termination pay. Only Ontario and federally regulated employers add a separate statutory severance on top. The table shows how notice grows in the places where we confirmed the rules.
| Where | Notice by years of service |
|---|---|
| Ontario, British Columbia | 1 week from 3 months, 2 weeks from 1 year, 3 weeks from 3 years, then one extra week per year until 8 weeks at year 8 |
| Alberta | 1 week from 90 days, 2 weeks from 2 years, 4 from 4 years, 5 from 6 years, 6 from 8 years, 8 from 10 years |
| Saskatchewan | 1 week from 13 weeks, 2 weeks from 1 year, 4 from 3 years, 6 from 5 years, 8 from 10 years |
| Quebec | 1 week from 3 months, 2 weeks from 1 year, 4 from 5 years, 8 from 10 years |
| Nova Scotia | 1 week from 3 months, 2 weeks from 2 years, 4 from 5 years, 8 from 10 years |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1 week from 3 months, 2 weeks from 2 years, 3 from 5 years, 4 from 10 years, 6 from 15 years |
| Northwest Territories | 2 weeks from 90 days, 3 weeks from 3 years, then one extra week per year until 8 weeks |
| Federal employers | 2 weeks from 3 months, 3 weeks from 3 years, then one extra week per year until 8 weeks, plus severance |
What does that look like at $1,200 a week?
Take six years of service. Ontario and British Columbia both require six weeks of notice, worth $7,200 in termination pay. Alberta gives five weeks, or $6,000. Quebec and Nova Scotia give four weeks, or $4,800, and Newfoundland and Labrador gives three weeks, or $3,600.
Two places go further. Ontario adds severance at one week for each year worked, capped at 26 weeks, but only for staff with five years or more whose employer carries a payroll of $2.5 million or above. Six years then bring a further $7,200, so the total is $14,400.
A federal employer owes the greater of two days of wages per year or five days. Here that’s 2.4 weeks, or $2,880, and the total is $10,080.
What can change the minimum?
These figures are the floor set by statute, and plenty can move them.
- Dismissal for just cause usually removes the right to notice or termination pay.
- Short-term staff, fixed-term contracts and some industries, such as construction, are excluded in many provinces.
- A court can award far more notice under common law, based on age, role and how hard it is to find similar work.
- A written contract or union agreement can promise more than the law does.
Prince Edward Island’s new Employment Standards Act came into force on 30 June 2026, and we couldn’t confirm its notice scale. The calculator shows that result as not available.
Is severance pay taxed?
It counts as income, so use the take-home pay calculator to see a figure after tax. Accrued vacation pay is a separate item, and the vacation pay calculator shows how it’s worked out. If a public holiday falls inside the notice period, the holiday pay calculator covers it.
Where the numbers come from
Notice scales, formulas and the Ontario and federal severance rules are read from provincial employment standards pages and the federal labour code, as of 29 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice, and if you’re facing a dismissal, an employment lawyer can tell you what your contract and the courts add. This website has no connection with any government body.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum I get after a dismissal?
The legal minimum is notice or termination pay, from one to eight weeks in most provinces. Ontario and federal employers can add statutory severance.
Who qualifies for statutory severance in Ontario?
Workers with at least five years of service whose employer has $2.5 million or more in payroll. It pays one week for each year, up to 26 weeks.
Are severance and termination pay the same thing?
No. Termination pay stands in for notice, while severance is an extra payment for service. Most provinces require only notice or termination pay.
Could a court award more than this?
Yes. Under common law, courts can set longer notice based on age, role and the job market, and a contract can also give more.
What happens if I was fired for just cause?
In most provinces you lose the right to notice or termination pay. Whether the cause is real is often disputed, so get advice.
Sources and updates
Updated: . How we check rates · Editorial team · Updates
Estimate only. These figures are a planning estimate, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns, and we don't offer tax, legal or accounting services. We have no connection with the Canada Revenue Agency, Revenu Québec or any provincial government. Your real amounts depend on details this tool cannot see, so confirm them with an official source or a qualified professional before you act.