Calgary's Severance Spotlight: Navigating O&G Terminations

Community Questions Spark Severance Discussion

A recent online discussion among Calgarians highlights a shared concern about employment severance from oil and gas multinationals. Many residents, facing complex termination scenarios, are questioning initial payout offers and actively seeking legal guidance to ensure they receive fair compensation.

Understanding Your Entitlements

While Alberta's Employment Standards Code sets minimum severance requirements, often based on years of service, common law entitlements are frequently much more extensive. Factors such as an employee's age, length of service, specific position, and the difficulty of finding comparable new employment (known as "Bardal factors") can significantly increase severance, sometimes extending up to 24 months' pay. Moreover, many contractual clauses attempting to limit severance to these minimums are often unenforceable in court.

Employment lawyers in Calgary offer various fee arrangements, from hourly rates to contingency fees, and many provide free initial consultations. Securing professional advice is often crucial for navigating these intricate legal landscapes and ensuring employees secure their rightful and full entitlements.