Trusted by 1000+ clients
Losing your job is one of the most stressful things that can happen. And the severance offer on the table is rarely what the law actually requires. Wrongful dismissal is straightforward: it’s being let go without cause and denied the full notice or pay you’re owed. Most first offers don’t come close.
Almost every termination without cause is potentially wrongful if the notice or pay offered falls below your common-law entitlement. The minimums set by Alberta’s Employment Standards Code are almost always far less than what you are actually owed. Whether you work in Calgary’s energy sector, finance, healthcare, tech, or the trades, the first offer from your employer is rarely the right one. What makes a dismissal wrongful is not the termination itself — it is the failure to pay your full severance. We make sure that doesn’t happen.
It is a myth that severance is calculated by a simple rule of thumb like one or two weeks per year of service. Your full financial entitlement is determined by the Bardal factors: your age, your length of service, your job title, and the availability of similar work in the current Calgary market. The older and more senior you are, and the harder your role is to replace, the longer the notice period owed. Don’t accept the first offer. It is almost always well below your true legal entitlement.
Too many terminated employees simply accept what they’re given — without asking whether it’s what they’re truly owed. This is one of the most important financial decisions you will make. Take 30 minutes to talk to an expert. Make the right decision about your future.
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 start by reviewing your full employment situation — your contract, your compensation history, your termination letter, and any performance records. From that review, we build a clear picture of what you are owed and a customized plan to get it. Every file is different. A senior manager in Calgary’s energy sector with 12 years of service has a very different case than a recent hire in tech. We will customize our approach to your specific circumstances.
Once we know what you’re owed, we take the lead. We negotiate directly with your employer or their counsel to recover your full compensation — base salary, bonuses, benefits, stock options, pension contributions — for the complete severance period. Our fees are contingency-based where appropriate: we only get paid if we get you more.
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.
100%
