Labour Standards
When you leave your job, you typically have to provide notice to your employer.
When you quit, you’re not entitled to reasonable notice of dismissal or severance like you would receive if you were losing your job. The exception to this is “constructive dismissal”, which is discussed in the next section.
If your employment is provincially regulated, then under the Labour Standards Code you must provide:
One week’s written notice if you have been employed more than three months, but less than two years
Two weeks’ written notice if you have been employed for two years or more
No advance notice is required for an employee of less than three months to quit their job; however, notice must still be provided in writing.
After you provide your written notice to resign, your employer:
Cannot lower your pay, cut hours, or reduce benefits in the interim
Must pay all owed wages within 5 working days after the end of the final pay period.
Must provide your accumulated vacation pay within ten days of the end of employment. This is only applicable if you have accumulated vacation pay, rather than receiving it during each pay period.
If your employment is federally regulated, then under the Canada Labour Code you do not need to provide your employer advance notice of resignation.
There are exceptions to the statutory notice requirements. Contact the Halifax Workers Actions Centre for more information.