Lecker & AssociatesNorth York, ON · September 9, 2026Follow

Layoff vs. Termination in Ontario: What Employees Need to Know

Employers often use “layoff,” “restructuring,” “position elimination” and “termination” interchangeably. Ontario law does not. A temporary layoff can leave the employment relationship legally continuing for Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) purposes, while a permanent layoff ends it. There is also a second question: even if a layoff falls within the ESA’s temporary-layoff rules, did the employer have...

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