My Alberta Employer Fired me. Can they do that?

Often when we speak with fired employees we are asked the question: can my former employer fire me? Isn't that illegal? While the answer is somewhat dependent on the circumstances, employers and employees both have freedom of movement. The Courts allow employers to decide for any reason (or really for no good reason) that they want to fire someone.

That said, the Courts generally say that in an indefinite contract of employment that employers, while they have freedom to fire employees, have an obligation to provide pay in lieu of notice. What that amount is depends on a number of factors (you can read our article on how this is calculated here: https://www.flodenward.com/post/how-is-severance-calculated-in-alberta .

So the answer is: yes they can fire you, but then the employer will likely have to pay you something, depending on a number of factors. If you have been fired and wish to know your options, please feel free to contact us.

The information contained in this article is not legal advice. No solicitor client relationship is formed through this article. The reader is encouraged to retain counsel for advice in these matters.