Quebec Severance and Notice Calculator
Quebec works differently from the common-law provinces. The Act respecting labour standards sets a minimum notice of termination, with a compensatory indemnity if it is not given, and the Civil Code of Québec adds a right to reasonable notice. There is no separate statutory severance pay. Enter your service and weekly pay to see the minimum and a rough Civil Code range.
Statutory minimum, Quebec
$4,000
4 weeks total · statutory minimum only
Notice (pay in lieu)
4 weeks
$4,000
Statutory severance
None
Reasonable notice under the Civil Code (rough range)
4.5 to 7.5 monthsabout $19,500 to $32,500
Quebec is a civil-law province, so common law does not apply. Instead, article 2091 of the Civil Code of Québec requires reasonable notice to end an employment contract of indefinite term, and courts weigh similar factors (the nature of the job, the circumstances, and length of service). There is no formula, so this is a broad illustration, not a prediction. Under article 2092 you cannot give up your right to compensation for insufficient notice or an abusive termination.
This tool estimates statutory minimums from each jurisdiction's employment-standards act (and the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated work), plus a rough reasonable-notice range (common law, or the Civil Code in Quebec). It is general information, not legal advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm or a government body. Your actual entitlement depends on your contract, the reason for the dismissal, and your full circumstances; a court, tribunal, or your provincial employment-standards office makes the binding calculation.
Check the first question before anything else: if you work for a bank, airline, interprovincial transport company, telecom or broadcaster, Canada Post, or another federally regulated employer, the Canada Labour Code applies instead of Quebec's law. Choose the federal option above.
Is There Statutory Severance Pay in Quebec?
No. Quebec's Act respecting labour standards requires notice of termination (or a compensatory indemnity in its place) but no separate severance payment. Beyond that minimum, the Civil Code of Québec entitles an employee on an indefinite-term contract to reasonable notice.
Quebec Notice Schedule
Minimum notice (or compensatory indemnity in its place) under the Act respecting labour standards (s. 82), by length of continuous service:
| Length of service | Minimum notice or payment |
|---|---|
| Under 3 months | None |
| 6 months | 1 week |
| 1.5 years | 2 weeks |
| 3 years | 2 weeks |
| 5 years | 4 weeks |
| 7 years | 4 weeks |
| 10 years or more | 8 weeks |
Worked Example
An employee in Quebec with 6 years of service (72 months) and regular pay of $1,000 a week is dismissed without cause and without working notice:
- Statutory notice for that service: 4 weeks, so 4 x $1,000 = $4,000 as a compensatory indemnity.
- Statutory severance pay: none in Quebec.
- Statutory total: $4,000, the legal minimum.
- Civil Code reasonable notice (a broad illustration, not a prediction): roughly 4.5 to 7.5 months, about $19,500 to $32,500.
The two Quebec layers
Section 82 sets the minimum notice: 1 week for 3 months to under 1 year of uninterrupted service, 2 weeks for 1 to under 5 years, 4 weeks for 5 to under 10 years, and 8 weeks for 10 years or more. If the employer does not give it, section 83 requires a compensatory indemnity equal to your regular wages, without overtime, for the missing notice.
Article 2091 of the Civil Code requires reasonable notice to end an employment contract of indefinite term, taking into account the nature of the job, the special circumstances, and how long you worked. Under article 2092 you cannot give up your right to compensation for insufficient notice or for a termination carried out in an abusive manner.
The section 82 notice is not required where you are dismissed for a serious fault, or where a contract for a fixed term or a specific undertaking simply ends.
Separately, an employee with 2 years of uninterrupted service who believes they were dismissed without good and sufficient cause can complain to the CNESST within 45 days of the dismissal (section 124), unless an equivalent remedy applies elsewhere, such as a grievance procedure under a collective agreement. That recourse can lead to reinstatement, so do not let the deadline pass while you compare numbers.
For the full picture, including exceptions and how disputes are decided, read Quebec severance pay: the full guide. To compare another province, use the Canada severance calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does common-law reasonable notice apply in Quebec?
No. Quebec is a civil-law province. The equivalent is reasonable notice under article 2091 of the Civil Code of Québec, which courts assess using similar factors.
How long do I have to challenge a dismissal in Quebec?
An employee with 2 years of uninterrupted service who believes the dismissal was without good and sufficient cause has 45 days from the dismissal to file a complaint with the CNESST under section 124 of the Act respecting labour standards, unless an equivalent remedy applies elsewhere, such as a grievance procedure under a collective agreement.
Sources
Law checked against these sources as of 2026-09-26. This calculator estimates statutory minimums and a rough reasonable-notice range. It is general information, not legal advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm or a government body. For advice on your situation, consult an employment lawyer licensed in Quebec.
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