

As temporary layoffs approach the maximum duration allowed in your jurisdiction, you may need to face a tough decision: Can we afford to recall the employees we had to place on temporary layoff? Hopefully, your company can answer YES to that question. But if it can’t, you may be facing a new legal challenge: complying with the group termination requirements of your jurisdiction. And while employment standards SNAFUs are never a good thing, the potential costs of group termination violations increase exponentially because they impact so many employees, many if not most of whom have union representation. Here’s a rundown of the group termination requirements by jurisdiction, including the changes made in response to COVID-19.
Jurisdiction | Termination Period | Required Notice (by number of employees) | Notice Recipients | Notice Information |
FEDERAL | 4 weeks | 50 or more: 16 weeks |
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ALBERTA | 4 weeks | >50-99: 8 weeks >101-299: 12 weeks >300 or more: 16 weeks Note: Bill 32 eliminates above notice |
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BRITISH COLUMBIA |
2 months | >50-100: 8 weeks >101-300: 12 weeks >Over 300: 16 weeks(1) |
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MANITOBA | 4 weeks | >50-100: 10 weeks >101-300: 14 weeks >Over 300: 18 weeks |
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NEW BRUNSWICK |
4 weeks | 10 or more, if they represent 25% of employer’s workforce: 6 weeks |
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Not specified |
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR |
4 weeks | >50-199: 8 weeks >200-499: 12 weeks >500 or more: 16 weeks |
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Employer must notify Minister in writing of:
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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES NUNAVUT |
4 weeks | >25-49: 4 weeks >50-99: 8 weeks >100-299: 12 weeks >300 or more: 16 weeks |
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Not specified |
NOVA SCOTIA |
4 weeks | >10-99: 8 weeks >100-299: 12 weeks >300 or more: 16 weeks |
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Not specified |
ONTARIO | 4 weeks | >50-199: 8 weeks >200-499: 12 weeks >500 or more: 16 weeks(2) |
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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND |
No Group Termination Requirements | |||
QUEBEC | 2 months | >10-99: 4 weeks >100-299: 12 weeks >300 or more: 16 weeks |
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SASKATCHEWAN | 4 weeks | >10-49: 4 weeks >50-99: 8 weeks >100 or more: 12 weeks |
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YUKON | 4 weeks | >25-49: 4 weeks >50-99: 8 weeks >100-299: 12 weeks >300 or more: 16 weeks |
Director of Employment Standards | Not specified |
Notes:
1. In BC, group termination notice is in addition to the amount of notice required for individual termination
2. Ontario’s group termination provisions apply only where the employer terminates more than 10% of the number of employees who have worked for at least 3 months, unless the termination is the result of a permanent closure of all of part of the employer’s business