Trusted by 1000+ clients
Fixed-term contracts — employment agreements with a set start and end date — carry outsized risk for employers, and outsized opportunity for you. If your contract ends on schedule, no severance is owed. But if your employer ends it early, the amount you’re owed can be enormous — calculated on the balance of the entire term, which may be years.
If your fixed-term contract is terminated early and lacks a clear, enforceable termination clause, the law entitles you to be paid for the entire balance of the remaining term — all wages and benefits you would have received up until the contract’s original end date, even if that period spans several years. This result may seem harsh for employers, but it’s been consistently enforced by appellate courts, including in Howard v. Benson Group Inc. and the Alberta Court of Appeal’s ruling in Rice v. Shell Global Solutions Canada Inc.
Yes. Under the Matthews v. Ocean Nutrition principle, your entitlement must include every form of compensation you would have earned during the balance of the term — not just base salary, but bonuses, benefits, and equity too.
Employers often assume a fixed-term contract caps their risk. Without a properly drafted termination clause, it does the opposite — the balance of the term can mean years of pay, not weeks. We make sure that entitlement is calculated in full.
our services
Workplace issues can be overwhelming, but you don't have to face them alone. We help employees across Calgary, Alberta understand their legal rights and make informed decisions about the next steps.
We review your fixed-term contract to determine whether it contains a clear, enforceable termination clause — the single factor that decides whether you’re owed a few weeks or the entire remaining balance of the term.
Where you’ve been employed through multiple contract renewals, we assess whether the relationship has been legally converted to indefinite employment, entitling you to full common law severance based on your entire accumulated service.
testimonials
Don't just take our word for it. Hear from the employees we've helped navigate wrongful dismissal, severance negotiations, and workplace disputes and the outcomes we secured for them.
Employment Law Advocates made a stressful situation so much easier to navigate. Their team was responsive, knowledgeable, and fought hard to secure the outcome I deserved.
After ten years with my employer, I was terminated without cause or proper notice. Lluc and his team explained my rights clearly and built a strong case from day one. They kept me informed at every stage and secured a settlement that recognized my years of service.
I endured months of harassment before I found the courage to seek help. The team treated my situation with real compassion and took my concerns seriously when others hadn't. They guided me through the process and helped me reach a resolution I could live with.
I'd worked as a "contractor" for years, missing out on pay and protections I was actually entitled to. The team recognized the misclassification immediately and fought to recover what I'd lost. Professional, responsive, and genuinely on my side throughout.
I was accused of misconduct and terminated for cause, and I didn't know where to turn. Employment Law Advocates challenged the allegations head-on and stood by me through a difficult process. Their experience and confidence made all the difference in the outcome.
We work with employees from all backgrounds who need trusted legal guidance during difficult workplace situations, including severance package reviews and wrongful dismissal claims.
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