I gave temporary layoff to a worker who has been with me for 17 years, the business structure is changing to higher technology needs. can I give him the working termination and require him to work from home?

Thank you for your question, my name is Jon Pinkus and I am an employment lawyer with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Typically it is within your right as an employer to give working notice of termination, provided all the compensation that employee receives and the conditions of employment all remain the same. Depending on the size of your payroll, you may be required to pay 17 weeks of the severance pay by way of lump sum, without requiring the employee to work for those weeks.

Before terminating this employee’s position, I would recommend contacting me at jon.pinkus@stlawyers.ca for more information.