Ottawa Employment Lawyer
Lost Your Job? Need an Ottawa Employment Lawyer?
David Ertl, an experienced employment lawyer in Ottawa, has served the community for almost 20 years, representing employees who have faced workplace issues such as wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, terminations with cause, layoffs, harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
Some of the Communities We Serve in the Ottawa Area
We represent clients throughout Ontario and the Ottawa area, including:
City of Ottawa • Kanata • Nepean • Buckingham • Thuro • Clarence-Rockland • Russell • North Grenville • Mississippi Mills • Carlton Place • Arnprior • Winchester • Kemptville • Smith Falls
Some Things You Should Know About Ertl Lawyers
Free Consultation With Ottawa Employment Lawyer
We offer a free phone consultation. There are no strings attached and no obligations.
We believe our consultation is the best in the business. We’ve even gotten five-star Google reviews just for our consultations.
During the consultation, we’ll take the time to listen to the unique qualities of your employment matter, provide our initial thoughts, outline your various options, and discuss potential outcomes, costs, and timing.
Contingency Fees Available
In most wrongful dismissal matters, we offer contingency fees (meaning our fee is based upon the improvement we make in your severance package).
In some cases, clients prefer fixed/flat fee billing.
You Will Work With a Leading Ottawa Employment Lawyer – Not A Junior Lawyer
David Ertl has practiced for over 20 years and has worked with all levels of employees (from c-suite executives and managers to licensed professionals, salespersons, tradespersons and general labourers). He has negotiated thousands of severance packages and recovered millions in wrongfully withheld severance.
Don’t trust your matter to a junior or inexperienced lawyer, or one who practices only occasionally in employment law.
What You Need To Know Right Now About Your Termination
Severance Offer “Deadline”
If you have received a severance package from your employer with a deadline, don’t worry. It’s important to note that their initial offer may not be their best, and you could be forfeiting a lot more severance pay by signing too soon. A deadline doesn’t usually affect what you are entitled to. If you are worried, you can always ask your employer for additional time to consider their offer. Rarely, an employer won’t provide additional time. This should reduce stress and give you sufficient time to call an experienced Ottawa employment lawyer.
Your Employment Contract Should Be Reviewed By An Ottawa Employment Lawyer
If you have been terminated, your employment contract may specify the severance pay you can receive. However, in some cases, the contract may not be binding, which means you could be entitled to more than what is stated in the contract. You should seek advice from an Ottawa employment lawyer to determine your entitlement. Please reach out to us today if you need help.
Calculating Severance Pay
No rule or law says you are entitled to only 2 weeks per year of employment. That’s a myth. In Ontario, severance is determined by reference to legislation, your employment contract, and the common law.
The main factors that determine common law severance pay are age, length of service, the type of job you had, and your employability.
You can try our severance pay calculator to estimate your potential severance pay. Then, discuss your results with Ottawa employment lawyers.
Limitation Periods
With few exceptions, a terminated employee has two years from termination to claim full severance pay from their employer. If you have any questions, consult with an Ottawa employment lawyer.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour or Employment Lawyer in Ottawa?
Don’t call a government ministry (such as the Ministry of Labour) for common law severance pay advice. They can only help with your bare MINIMUM entitlements under the Employment Standards Act, not your MAXIMUM entitlements under the common law.
Moreover, with Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, if you file a complaint with them to get your MINIMUM severance, you are barred from pursuing your MAXIMUM severance pay under the common law!
Experienced Ottawa employment lawyers can help you get the severance you deserve.
Terminations with “Just Cause”
If you were terminated for “just cause” and did not receive any severance pay, it is important to remember that this is only your employer’s argument. Proving “just cause” is a difficult task for employers. In most cases, you must be guilty of serious misconduct, such as theft, for an employer to deny your severance pay. If you are concerned about your rights.
After 9 years of loyal service, I was terminated and given a low-ball severance package. As a single parent, I needed more money and benefits than what was offered. As soon as I spoke with David and Andrea, I knew I was in the right hands. They negotiated an excellent severance package! Highly recommended service.
– A.M., EDUCATION INDUSTRY, OTTAWA
Severance Pay Calculator
Our severance pay calculator can give you an idea of how much your severance should be.
Ottawa Employment Lawyer: Free Employment Guides
6th edition
This guide provides information on common severance pay issues, including:
✓ Responding to the employer “deadline”
✓ Key mistakes to avoid
✓ Lump sum vs. salary continuation
✓ “Short service” employees
✓ Employees 45 years and older
Help! I Have Been Fired With Cause
6th edition
This guide provides information on “cause” terminations, including:
✓ What is cause?
✓ Why the employer is probably wrong!
✓ Factors that really matter
✓ Can I still get E.I.?
✓ Bad references
Constructive Dismissal
6th edition
This guide provides information on constructive dismissal, including:
✓ 20 common “constructive dismissals”
✓ Whether you should resign
✓ What happens to my E.I. benefits?
✓ Layoffs!
✓ The “toxic” work environment
Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
6th edition
This guide provides information on discrimination and harassment in the workplace, including:
✓ Types of discrimination
✓ Types of harassment
✓ Bill 168
✓ Remedies
✓ Tribunal vs. court
Example Cases Won by Ertl Lawyers: Ottawa Employment Lawyer
At Ertl Lawyers, we have helped clients just like you. In Patterson v. IBM Canada Limited, 2017 ONSC 1264 (CanLII), David Ertl was able to obtain an award of 18 months of severance pay and benefits for Mr. Patterson after he was terminated from IBM.
In Drysdale v. Panasonic Canada Inc., 2015 68678 (CanLII), David Ertl of Ertl Lawyers, represented an employee who was terminated from Panasonic. David was able to get his client, a warehouse employee, 22 months of severance.
Ottawa Employment Lawyer: Videos
How Much Severance Am I Entitled To?
How Age Affects Severance Pay
Severance Pay if You’re Over 45
Niagara Falls Employment Lawyer: Blog Posts
Parental Leave
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Age and Severance Pay
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Constructive Dismissal
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How Much Is Your Severance Pay?
Common law severance pay is different for everyone and depends on such things as your age, length of service, the type of job you had, and the number of available jobs in the marketplace. Consult with Ertl Lawyers today to understand your rights and to make sure you don’t leave anything on the table.
Ottawa Employment Lawyer