Glossary - Employment and Work

severance pay

In Employment and Work

Severance pay is not the same as termination pay or pay in lieu of notice. The Employment Standards Act gives some people the right to severance pay when they lose their jobs.

You get severance pay only if you’ve worked at least 5 years for your employer and:

  • your employer pays wages of at least $2.5 million a year, or
  • at least 50 people will be losing their jobs within a 6-month period because the business is being cut back.

The basic rule is that severance pay is one week’s pay for each year you’ve worked for your employer, up to 26 weeks.

Social Insurance Number

In Employment and Work, Income Assistance

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit number that you need to work in Canada or to use government programs and get benefits.

Special EI benefits

In Employment and Work

You might qualify for special EI benefits if you need time off work for certain reasons. Special EI benefits include maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and parents of critically ill children benefits.

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