Notice period calculator · Canada 2026

Notice periods in Canada 2026

The notice an employer must give often grows with the years you have worked for them. The calculator above works out your notice period from your hire date and last day, together with severance and final pay.

The rules in brief

• Notice and severance: Employment standards set minimum written notice or pay in lieu: in Ontario 1 week after 3 months, 2 weeks after 1 year and 1 week per year up to 8 weeks, plus severance pay of 1 week per year (up to 26 weeks) after 5 years if the employer’s payroll is at least $2.5 million. Quebec: 1 to 8 weeks; British Columbia and Alberta: up to 8 weeks. Courts often award much longer “reasonable notice” under common law, which is not modelled here.

Notice from your employer, by years of service (Employment Standards Act, 2000 (s. 57 and 64))

These are the legal minimums. A contract or collective agreement can give longer notice.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the notice period after 5 years in Canada?
5 weeks (minimum under the Ontario employment standards).

Can my contract give more notice?
Yes. A contract or collective agreement can give more than the legal minimum, but not less.

Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” in the calculator. Last checked: October 2026. Estimates for information, not financial advice.