From our payroll expert, Alan McEwan:
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No. Once a person has been terminated, and paid whatever monies might be owing as wages in lieu of notice, or dismissal without just cause, there’s nothing stopping the employer from replacing the terminated employees, at any time.
However, if the employer “invents” restructuring as the reason for termination, when the plan all along is merely to replace incumbent employees with others, then I would suggest the employer engage suitably paid lawyers, as there well could be consequences for this type of behaviour.