Getting laid off

Generally speaking, an employer can lay you off whenever they want as long as they give you notice of termination.

There are two ways they can do this. They can warn you in advance. This is called the notice period. Or they can let you go right away. But then they have to pay you the money you would have earned during the notice period. This money is called severance pay.

There are rules around how much notice (or pay) an employer needs to give — and when they don't need to give any (such as if they had just cause to fire you). See our guidance on how much notice an employer needs to give and if you are fired.

A temporary layoff is when an employer tells a worker they must take an unpaid leave from work. The law in BC doesn’t give employers a general right to temporarily lay off workers.

Temporary layoffs are only legal if one of the following applies:

• You have a written employment contract that allows for a layoff.

• You work in an industry where layoffs are standard practice.

• You consent to the layoff.

Your employer must prove they had the right to lay you off for one of these reasons.

If you’re let go temporarily and none of the above apply, you have the same rights as someone who’s let go without cause. That means you’re entitled to notice (or pay). See our information on how much notice an employer needs to give.

If a temporary layoff is permitted in your situation, and if you’re covered by employment standards law, there are limits on how long the layoff can last. Your employer can temporarily lay you off for up to 13 weeks in a consecutive 20-week period.

Need help figuring out if employment standards law applies to you? See our information on who’s covered.

If the layoff lasts more than 13 weeks in a consecutive 20-week period, it’s no longer “temporary.” It would be treated as if you were fired without cause on the first day of the layoff.

If you’re covered by employment standards law and your employer reduces your weekly hours so you’re earning less than half of your regular wage, this counts as a week’s layoff. That is, it counts as one week towards the 13-week “temporary layoff” period.

There are steps you can take if you’re laid off.

Step 1. Tell your employer if you don’t consent to the layoff

Step 2. Make an employment standards complaint

Step 1. Tell your employer if you don't consent to the layoff

If you don’t consent to the layoff, let your employer know right away. Do it in writing. Keep a copy.

Step 2. Make an employment standards complaint

You can challenge the layoff. If you’re covered by employment standards law, you can make a complaint to the government office that administers that law.

We explain the steps involved. See our information on making an employment standards complaint.

For more steps to consider, see our information on if you've been fired.