PLEA gratefully acknowledges our primary core funder the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan for their continuing and generous support of our organization.
You can choose to leave your job for any reason. Your employer may also end your employment for several reasons. It is important to know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to leaving or losing your job.
If you are in a union, you may want to talk your representative if you are losing your job.
An employer can terminate your job for many reasons, but there are some exceptions. For example, your employer can choose to let you go because of:
An employer cannot fire you because of things like your sex, race, nationality, religion or place of origin. See Human Rights for more information.
Employers also cannot fire you because you are away from work on a leave that you are entitled to take. See Time Off for more information.
If you lose your job through no fault of your own and cannot find work, you may be able to get Employment Insurance. If you are unable to find a new job and cannot support yourself, you may be able to get Social Assistance.
If you have been working for your employer for more than 13 weeks and you want to quit, you need to give 2 weeks’ notice. This does not apply if:
If you have worked for your employer for more than 13 weeks, your employer must give you notice if they lay you off without just cause.
This notice requirement does not apply to care providers who go into a person's home to look after children or other family members.
Notice requirements depend on how long you have worked for your employer. If you have worked:
An employer can choose to pay you instead of giving you notice. In this case you would leave your job right away but still get paid for the whole notice period.
The notice periods above are the minimum set out by the law. If your employment contract does not specify that the minimums apply, you could be entitled to more notice or pay in lieu. If you think you might be entitled to more than minimum consult a lawyer.
An employer does not have to give notice if they have just cause to fire you. There must have been serious misconduct, such as theft, violence, or a pattern of being absent or late for work without a good reason. If an employer has allowed the behaviour, they may not have just cause to fire you. Your employer cannot let you go without notice for small things like a personality conflict or a single incident of minor bad behaviour.
The Regina Public Library and Saskatoon Public Library are hosting free Law Fair events during Saskatchewan Access to Justice Week to connect people with free legal information, assistance, and support. Attend to acquire legal knowledge and to broaden awareness of legal rights and responsibilities!