Ontario ESA severance calculator
What you're owed when your job ends in Ontario.
Ontario's Employment Standards Act sets the minimum an employer must pay when it ends your employment without cause. Enter your service and pay to estimate termination pay, severance pay and vacation pay.
These are minimums. Unless your contract validly limits you to the ESA, courts often award "common law" reasonable notice that can be many months, far above these figures. Have an employment lawyer review any severance offer before you sign a release.
Quick answers
Is termination pay the same as severance pay in Ontario?
No. Termination pay replaces the notice you didn't get, up to 8 weeks. Severance pay is a separate payment for long-serving employees of larger employers, up to 26 weeks. Some people get both.
Do I get severance if I'm fired for cause?
Generally no. Employees dismissed for wilful misconduct, disobedience or wilful neglect of duty that isn't trivial and hasn't been condoned aren't entitled to ESA termination or severance pay.
When must termination and severance pay be paid?
By the later of seven days after employment ends or the next regular payday. Severance can sometimes be paid in instalments with the employee's or the Director's agreement.