The 2025 federal budget contained a major employment bombshell: a plan to eliminate thousands of public service jobs by March 2029.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government claims that streamlining the federal public service will help free up money to invest in key areas.
READ MORE: Scotiabank cutting over 2,500 Canadian jobs, part of multi-year restructuring plan
Here are three things that non-unionized workers in Canada shouldn’t do if they’re laid off as part of their employer’s restructuring plan.
1. Don’t lose your temper
After finding out that you’re being let go, it can be extremely tempting to lash out at your boss. However, keeping your cool is crucial.
Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay. Getting angry during your termination meeting or doing something to hurt your employer could affect the amount of compensation you’re legally entitled to.
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READ MORE: 5 ways to determine if your severance package is fair
If you’re fired without severance pay, remain calm and contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. We can determine if this type of dismissal was appropriate in your situation and help you secure proper compensation if it wasn’t.
2. Don’t sign your severance offer immediately
Contrary to popular belief, Canadians don’t have to accept their employer’s severance offer on the spot.
If you receive a severance offer from your boss, hold off on signing anything until you speak with my firm. You might be entitled to more compensation than what you’re being asked to accept.
READ MORE: 5 things employees should never do before talking to an employment lawyer
As long as you didn’t sign the offer and return it to your employer, you have two years from the date of your dismissal to pursue full severance pay.
3. Don’t negotiate a new severance package on your own
While it might seem like a good idea to advocate for better compensation on your own, the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP will ensure there’s no “funny business” when your livelihood is at stake.
One of our clients, a bank clerk, tried her hand at severance negotiations after being laid off during a company-wide restructuring. Unimpressed with her package, the individual sent her employer an email—explaining why she believed she was entitled to another month of pay.
When management quickly agreed to her request, the bank clerk was thrilled that she’d been successful in securing more compensation. However, just as she was about to sign the new severance offer, she hesitated—feeling compelled to get a second opinion from Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.
This proved to be the best decision that the bank clerk could’ve made. After a thorough review of her situation, we informed her that she was entitled to far more compensation than what was being offered.
In the end, we were able to secure every cent of severance pay that our client was owed without getting the courts involved.
READ MORE: Tech exec’s severance victory: Turning termination into triumph
Lost your job? Boss pressuring you to sign a severance offer immediately?
Contact the firm or call 1-855-821-5900 for a consultation with an employment lawyer. Get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.
Lior Samfiru is an employment lawyer and co-founding partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, Canada’s most positively reviewed law firm specializing in employment law and long-term disability claims. He provides legal insight on Canada’s only Employment Law Show on TV and radio.