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Quitting a job affects your legal rights to things like employment insurance benefits and compensation you are owed. Learn your rights if you quit, and steps to protect yourself.


This script describes your rights under the BC ''Employment Standards Act'' (the Act) if your job ends, or terminates – whether you quit or you are fired or laid off. The Act is available at [http://www.bclaws.ca www.bclaws.ca]. You may also have other rights under your employment contract and they may be greater than your rights under the Act. Generally, your contractual rights cannot be less than the minimum protections under the Act. Some of your rights under the Act, such as the right to overtime pay, may not be available under your employment contract. Check script [[If You're Fired - Wrongful Dismissal (Script 241)|241]], called “If You're fired - Wrongful Dismissal”. It explains that if you’re fired, you may be able to sue your employer in court for breach of contract. That could be instead of, or in addition to, seeking the minimum protections in the Act. In some cases, you cannot do both things – you have to choose. This can be a complicated area and you should get legal advice about your case before deciding what to do.
==What you should know==
There are some key things to know if you quit (or intend to quit) your job.


==Were you an employee? Were you in a union?==
===What your employment contract says===
This script applies only to non-union employees – not to partners, contractors, or employees in unions. If you belong to a union, the collective agreement between the union and the employer has rules about terminating employees. If you’re a partner or contractor, your contract controls the situation. But many people who are called contractors or partners are actually employees under the Act. The Act focuses on the real relationship between you and the person or organization you worked for, not on what you were called. So, if a person or organization directed and controlled your work, provided the tools and equipment you needed to do your work, and paid you a wage, you were probably an employee under the Act, even if you were called a partner or contractor.
A key factor affecting your rights when you’re leaving a job is your '''employment contract'''. It may include terms that deal with how your employment can be ended. (Note there’s ''always'' an employment contract between a worker and an employer, even if nothing is in writing.)


Lastly, the script applies to most BC workers because provincial law covers them. But it doesn’t apply to those who work for the federal government or in an industry regulated by the federal government, like banks and airlines – federal laws apply to them.
Many employment contracts set out how much notice the worker must give to the employer if they quit.


==Did you quit?==
Make sure you’re aware of any term in your contract that might limit your future activities. For example, a '''non-compete clause''' that tries to limit your ability to take a similar job.
If you quit your job, the Act doesn’t require you to give your employer any notice that you’re going to quit. But your employment contract (oral or written) may require you to do so. Generally, employees who have higher-level jobs must give some notice; if they don’t, their employer may sue them (however, this is a very rare event). The amount of notice depends on several things including the type of job, how long they had the job, and general labour market conditions. Even if you don’t have to give notice, it is usually a good idea to do so.


If you quit, your employer must pay you all wages and vacation pay owing within six days of your last workday.
===It's best to give your employer notice===
BC’s main employment law doesn’t say you need to provide notice to your employer before quitting. But under common law, workers are expected to provide reasonable notice (more on what this means in a moment). This is to ensure your employer has enough time to adjust to your departure.


==Were you fired?==
Your employment contract may set out how much notice you need to provide.
Employers can fire employees in several ways. Your boss may say, “you’re fired”. Or, your boss may fire you in a much more subtle way and the Act recognizes this. For example, you may have been demoted without your consent. Your salary may have gone down. Or your boss may have reduced your responsibilities and duties. Usually, if your employer makes any important change in your job without your consent, it may be a dismissal under section 66 of the Act. If an employer fired you this way, the Employment Standards Branch (which enforces the Act) might find that you were fired – even though no one ever said, “you’re fired”.


==What happens if you are fired?==
If not, the amount of notice must be reasonable in the circumstances. The factors in play include the duties and responsibilities you have, how long you’ve been in the job, and the time it would reasonably take the employer to have others handle your work or to hire a replacement.
If you were fired for “just cause”  – explained in the next section – the Act doesn’t require the employer to give you any notice that you are going to be fired, or to pay you anything. But if you were fired without just cause, the Act says the employer must either give you written notice that you’re going to be fired – or pay you the wages you would earn in the notice period. These wages are called compensation for length of service, and are sometimes known as termination pay or severance pay. An employer can give you an equivalent combination of notice and compensation. Some exceptions are described later in this script.


If you get written notice of termination, your job continues until the end of the notice period. During the notice period, the Act prevents your employer from changing your conditions of employment without your written consent.
For more junior workers, two weeks’ notice is common. For workers with a lot of responsibility, four weeks’ notice is more typical. However, these are only general guidelines.


If your employer gives you notice during your annual vacation, while you are on any type of leave, or during a strike or lockout, the notice is not legally valid. The employer must wait until you return to work before giving you written notice of termination.
The best way to tell your employer you quit is to give them a letter of resignation. To be effective, your resignation must be clear. Your employer should have no doubt about your intention to quit. Uttering the words “I quit!” as part of an emotional outburst is not enough.


==What is “just cause”?==
===If you give your employer notice===
“Just cause” usually means that you did something seriously wrong, such as stealing from your employer or refusing to carry out a job duty. Your employer may have just cause to fire you if you:
If you do give notice, your employer can accept or refuse.
*use drugs or alcohol that interfere with your job performance
*ignore a strict rule of “no alcohol during work hours”
*intentionally disobey your boss
*consistently refuse to follow a clearly defined chain of authority in a tightly-knit business
*are disloyal to your employer or put yourself in a conflict of interest; for example, you set up a business to compete directly with your employer
*ignore a clear workplace policy, procedure, or rule
*are dishonest about something important


There may also be other cases of just cause, and things aren't always as clear-cut as these examples. An employer does not have just cause to fire you if the employer is simply dissatisfied with your recent job performance. An employer may have to warn you before firing you. An employer may even have to offer you reasonable job training.
If they accept, you’ll continue to earn your regular wage until your last day of work.


Some employers may try to avoid giving you notice or compensation by saying there is just cause to fire you, even if there wasn’t. If you are fired and the employer says there was just cause, look very carefully at the employer’s reasons for firing you to see if there really is just cause. For example, there’s no just cause if you are dismissed because your employer is losing money or is reorganized, or because your job becomes redundant or is eliminated by technological change. A personality conflict between you and your boss may not be just cause – it depends on the facts of the case. In all these cases, the employer must give you written notice or compensation.
If your employer refuses (and says “take your things and go home, you’re done here”), they must pay you compensation. They must pay you for the amount of notice you have given. Or if your legal entitlement to notice on dismissal is a shorter period, they can pay you for that shorter period.


==If you were fired without just cause, the Act says you get written notice or compensation for length of service==
===Your employer must pay any outstanding wages===
Regardless of whether you notify your employer ahead of time that you’re quitting, your employer must pay all wages owed to you through your last day of work. This includes annual vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, and overtime.


===How much written notice or compensation?===
If you’re covered by employment standards law, your employer must pay your outstanding wages within '''six days''' of your last day of work.
The Act sets the following minimum amounts for written notice of termination and compensation for length of service. An employer can give you notice or pay (compensation), or a combination of the two – as long as you get the proper amount in total. If you have been employed less than 3 months in a row, no notice or pay is required. But if you have been employed for at least:
*3 months in a row, you get at least 1 week’s notice or pay
*12 months in a row, you get at least 2 weeks’ notice or pay
*3 years in a row, you get an additional week’s notice or pay for each additional year of service, to a maximum of 8 weeks


If your employer gives you pay instead of notice, the pay is based on your average weekly wages during your last 8 weeks of normal work.
===Your eligibility for employment insurance benefits===
If you quit your job, you will usually not be eligible to receive employment insurance (EI) benefits. The exception to this rule is if you had '''no other reasonable choice''' except to leave your job.


If you are fired, your employer must pay all your wages and vacation pay within 48 hours of firing you – no matter why you are fired.
Some examples are:
* you experienced sexual or other harassment
* you needed to move with a spouse or dependent child to another place of residence
* your employer made major changes to your work duties or pay


If an employer fires you because of pregnancy, parental or family responsibility, or jury duty, the employer may have to pay you more money unless it can show that it did not fire you for these reasons. In some cases, you can be reinstated, or put back, in your old job – but usually this is not realistic for employers or employees.
When you apply for EI, you will have to describe your situation and explain what steps you took to fix the problem before you quit.


==Exceptions: other times when notice and pay are not required==
==Work out the problem==
An employer can fire you without giving you any notice or pay if you:
*could accept or reject any work the employer offered you
*were hired for a specific period
*were hired for specific work that would not last over 12 months
*were laid off because of something unpredictable like a flood or fire
*worked at a construction site for a construction firm
*refused a reasonable offer of a comparable job with the employer


==Exceptions: some people are not covered by the Act==
Taking these steps can help protect your rights if you quit your job.
The Act does not apply to people who are:
*professionals such as doctors, lawyers, architects, accountants, and dentists
*real estate agents
*secondary school students in work-study programs
*sitters (defined in the regulations, this can include more than babysitters; for example, someone who looks after a disabled person may be a sitter)
*in certain government incentive programs
*in job creation programs under the Employment Insurance program
*primary or secondary school students working 15 hours or less a week as newspaper carriers
*in industries regulated by the federal government such as banks and airlines


Other people not covered by parts of the Act that deal with termination are:
===Step 1. Try to fix the problem===
*student nurses
*teachers
*voluntary and auxiliary fire fighters
*fishers (this term is defined in the regulations)


==Rules for layoffs==
If you haven’t quit your job yet, consider options to fix the problem. You might consider:
Temporary layoffs are still considered termination (requiring notice or compensation), unless the employee consents or if there is an implied or explicit term allowing this in the contract. A temporary layoff includes the case where you earn less than 50% of your normal wages because your work hours are reduced. If a temporary layoff is allowed, it can last up to 13 weeks in any period of 20 weeks. After 13 weeks of layoff, the Act considers an employee to be terminated when the layoff started.
* talking with your employer
* talking with a trusted colleague or union representative
* asking for new duties or to work under a different manager
* taking job-protected leave instead of quitting


==Rules if 50 or more employees are fired==
===Step 2. Figure out if you have no other reasonable choice but to quit===
If an employer fires 50 or more employees at a single location within a two-month period, special rules apply unless the terminations are part of a normal seasonal reduction in staff. The employees are entitled to more notice or pay – between 8 and 16 weeks more – depending on the total number of employees who are terminated. In this situation, you should contact the Employment Standards Branch.


==Summary and where to get more information==
If you quit your job and you want to get EI benefits, you must prove you had no other reasonable choice except to quit your job.
If you’re fired or lose your job in some other way and don’t get written notice or compensation for length of service, the Employment Standards Branch can help you recover compensation and any other unpaid wages owing to you. You can call the information line (1.800.663.3316) or go to the website ([http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb]) to find out if you have a right to compensation, and if so, how much. (The Branch has facts sheets on termination, just cause and many related topics.)


You will then probably have to ask for payment from your employer through a Self-Help Kit (though there are some exceptions to this). If your employer doesn’t pay you after you do this, you can make a written complaint to the Branch online, in person, or by mail.
===Step 3. Check your employment contract===


But instead, you may be able to sue for breach of contract – for more than the minimum amounts under the Act. Check script [[If You're Fired - Wrongful Dismissal (Script 241)|241]], called “If You're Fired – Wrongful Dismissal” for more information. You may need legal advice about whether to complain to the Employment Standards Branch or sue for breach of contract, or do both. There is debate in the legal profession about whether you can actually do both. Be very careful about accepting a severance or termination package from your employer without first getting legal advice.
Check the terms of your employment contract to make sure you meet any notice requirements on quitting your job.


If you think you were fired because of your age, gender, religion, or some other personal characteristic, you may have a separate claim under human rights law. In that case, contact the BC Human Rights Tribunal at 604.775.2000 in Vancouver and 1.888.440.8844 elsewhere in BC. See its website, at [http://www.bchrt.bc.ca www.bchrt.bc.ca], for more information. Or if you worked for the federal government or in an industry regulated by the federal government, like banks and airlines, contact the Canadian Human Rights Commission at 604.666.2251 in Vancouver and 1.800.999.6899 elsewhere in BC. See its website, at [http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca www.chrc-ccdp.ca], for more information. As well, check script [[Protection Against Job Discrimination (Script 270)|270]], called “Protection against Job Discrimination” and script [[Human Rights and Discrimination Protection (Script 236)|236]], called “Human Rights and Discrimination Protection”.
===Step 4. Start looking for another job===


You can start looking for another job before you quit. If you don’t want your current employer to be contacted, indicate on your application that you’re applying “in confidence.”


[updated February 2013]
===Step 5. Give your employer notice===
It’s best to prepare a letter. It doesn’t need to be overly detailed. It should fit on a single page and include:
* a clear statement that you're going to resign
* the date of your last day of work
* your appreciation for what you have learned
* an offer to help with the transition


Hand the letter to your employer in person. Even if it’s uncomfortable. It’s the professional thing to do.


----
===Go deeper===
----
We explain these steps in more detail and have more information on your rights if you quit your job. [https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/everyday-legal-problems/work/leaving-job/if-you-quit-your-job See our in-depth coverage of this topic].


==Who can help==
===Helpful agencies===
Consider reaching out to these agencies for help if you quit your job.


:'''Employment Standards Branch'''
:Administers the law in BC that sets minimum standards for workers.
:Call 1-800-663-3316
:[https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/employment-standards-advice/employment-standards Visit website]
:'''Employment and Social Development Canada'''
:Administers the law that protects workers in federally-regulated industries.
:Call 1-800-641-4049
:[https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development.html?utm_campaign=not-applicable&utm_medium=vanity-url&utm_source=canada-ca_esdc Visit website]
===Legal advice===
There are options for free or low-cost legal advice.
:'''Access Pro Bono's Free Legal Advice'''
:Volunteer lawyers provide 30 minutes of free legal advice to people with low or modest income.
:Call 1-877-762-6664
:[https://www.accessprobono.ca/get-legal-help Visit website]
:'''Access Pro Bono’s Everyone Legal Clinic'''
:Clinicians provide affordable fixed-fee services on a range of everyday legal problems.
:[https://everyonelegal.ca/ Visit website]
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Latest revision as of 17:28, 23 November 2023

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Richard Johnson, Ascent Employment Law in June 2023.
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Quitting a job affects your legal rights to things like employment insurance benefits and compensation you are owed. Learn your rights if you quit, and steps to protect yourself.

What you should know

There are some key things to know if you quit (or intend to quit) your job.

What your employment contract says

A key factor affecting your rights when you’re leaving a job is your employment contract. It may include terms that deal with how your employment can be ended. (Note there’s always an employment contract between a worker and an employer, even if nothing is in writing.)

Many employment contracts set out how much notice the worker must give to the employer if they quit.

Make sure you’re aware of any term in your contract that might limit your future activities. For example, a non-compete clause that tries to limit your ability to take a similar job.

It's best to give your employer notice

BC’s main employment law doesn’t say you need to provide notice to your employer before quitting. But under common law, workers are expected to provide reasonable notice (more on what this means in a moment). This is to ensure your employer has enough time to adjust to your departure.

Your employment contract may set out how much notice you need to provide.

If not, the amount of notice must be reasonable in the circumstances. The factors in play include the duties and responsibilities you have, how long you’ve been in the job, and the time it would reasonably take the employer to have others handle your work or to hire a replacement.

For more junior workers, two weeks’ notice is common. For workers with a lot of responsibility, four weeks’ notice is more typical. However, these are only general guidelines.

The best way to tell your employer you quit is to give them a letter of resignation. To be effective, your resignation must be clear. Your employer should have no doubt about your intention to quit. Uttering the words “I quit!” as part of an emotional outburst is not enough.

If you give your employer notice

If you do give notice, your employer can accept or refuse.

If they accept, you’ll continue to earn your regular wage until your last day of work.

If your employer refuses (and says “take your things and go home, you’re done here”), they must pay you compensation. They must pay you for the amount of notice you have given. Or if your legal entitlement to notice on dismissal is a shorter period, they can pay you for that shorter period.

Your employer must pay any outstanding wages

Regardless of whether you notify your employer ahead of time that you’re quitting, your employer must pay all wages owed to you through your last day of work. This includes annual vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, and overtime.

If you’re covered by employment standards law, your employer must pay your outstanding wages within six days of your last day of work.

Your eligibility for employment insurance benefits

If you quit your job, you will usually not be eligible to receive employment insurance (EI) benefits. The exception to this rule is if you had no other reasonable choice except to leave your job.

Some examples are:

  • you experienced sexual or other harassment
  • you needed to move with a spouse or dependent child to another place of residence
  • your employer made major changes to your work duties or pay

When you apply for EI, you will have to describe your situation and explain what steps you took to fix the problem before you quit.

Work out the problem

Taking these steps can help protect your rights if you quit your job.

Step 1. Try to fix the problem

If you haven’t quit your job yet, consider options to fix the problem. You might consider:

  • talking with your employer
  • talking with a trusted colleague or union representative
  • asking for new duties or to work under a different manager
  • taking job-protected leave instead of quitting

Step 2. Figure out if you have no other reasonable choice but to quit

If you quit your job and you want to get EI benefits, you must prove you had no other reasonable choice except to quit your job.

Step 3. Check your employment contract

Check the terms of your employment contract to make sure you meet any notice requirements on quitting your job.

Step 4. Start looking for another job

You can start looking for another job before you quit. If you don’t want your current employer to be contacted, indicate on your application that you’re applying “in confidence.”

Step 5. Give your employer notice

It’s best to prepare a letter. It doesn’t need to be overly detailed. It should fit on a single page and include:

  • a clear statement that you're going to resign
  • the date of your last day of work
  • your appreciation for what you have learned
  • an offer to help with the transition

Hand the letter to your employer in person. Even if it’s uncomfortable. It’s the professional thing to do.

Go deeper

We explain these steps in more detail and have more information on your rights if you quit your job. See our in-depth coverage of this topic.

Who can help

Helpful agencies

Consider reaching out to these agencies for help if you quit your job.

Employment Standards Branch
Administers the law in BC that sets minimum standards for workers.
Call 1-800-663-3316
Visit website
Employment and Social Development Canada
Administers the law that protects workers in federally-regulated industries.
Call 1-800-641-4049
Visit website

Legal advice

There are options for free or low-cost legal advice.

Access Pro Bono's Free Legal Advice
Volunteer lawyers provide 30 minutes of free legal advice to people with low or modest income.
Call 1-877-762-6664
Visit website
Access Pro Bono’s Everyone Legal Clinic
Clinicians provide affordable fixed-fee services on a range of everyday legal problems.
Visit website
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