Reasonable Notice and The Employment Contract

In a previous article dealing with the employer’s obligation to provide reasonable notice upon termination, we pointed out that the obligation is by no means absolute. There will certainly be no such obligation where the employee is terminated for cause. The concept of “just cause” and employee’s conduct which can give rise to just cause for termination will be treated in future articles. Today, however, we will take a look at the increasingly common situation where an employer requires that an employee sign an employment agreement setting out the terms and conditions of the employment relationship. Such agreements will typically include termination provisions which attempt to restrict the employee’s right to notice in the event of termination without cause. In monetary terms, the contracted entitlement to notice will likely be significantly less than “reasonable notice” as prescribed at common law. Put differently, it is rare that an employment contract will provide more generous terms than at common law.

If the termination provisions of the agreement are drafted carefully by the employer, it may be difficult for a terminated employee to obtain reasonable notice. The Courts however, have shown a reluctance to enforce such agreements unless the following conditions are met:

1) The termination provisions of the agreement must be clear and unambiguous. The Courts have determined that if an employee is going to be asked to sign away their right to reasonable notice, the employer must make it clear to the employee what it is seeking. Under these circumstances, terms which are vague or open to more than one interpretation will likely not be enforced against the employee. Where the employee does not understand the agreement he or she is being asked to sign and asks for the opportunity to obtain legal advice, an employer’s refusal to allow the employee to see a lawyer before signing the agreement may result in such an agreement not being enforced.

2) The termination provisions of the agreement must comply with the notice and severance provisions contained in applicable Employment Standards legislation. Termination provisions which fail to meet minimum Employment Standards entitlements will not be enforceable. For example, an employee terminated without cause after three years of service (and assuming they are regulated by the Ontario Employment Standards Act) is entitled to three weeks notice of termination or the equivalent in pay. Where the agreement on the other hand, permits the employer to terminate an employee without notice or to provide less than three weeks notice, the termination provisions are invalid and the employee will be able to pursue his/her common law right to reasonable notice.

3) Where an employee accepts employment on terms which do not limit his right to notice and commences employment only to subsequently be given a contract which limits those rights, the notice provisions of the agreement may only be enforceable where something passes from the employer in exchange for the right the employee has given up. Where on the other hand, the terms and condition of the employment contract otherwise remain the same, the new agreement will not likely limit the employee’s right to reasonable notice.

4) Where subsequent to signing an agreement limiting one’s right to notice, the employee’s duties and remuneration are substantially increased, the Courts may conclude that the termination provisions of the agreement, while enforceable with respect to the position occupied by the employee at the time the agreement was entered into, may not be applicable with respect to the employee’s new position.

Where the employment agreement is silent on the issue of notice, the Courts have found an implied term providing for an employee’s right to reasonable notice in the event of termination.

Employees are best advised to seek legal advice before executing an employment contract. It is appropriate to know what you are getting into before signing on the dotted line. An employee who has signed a contract which includes a term which seeks to limit his right to notice, will need to consult a lawyer to determine if there are any grounds upon which such term can be set aside. Finding a basis for contesting the agreement can make the difference between employment standards minimum entitlements and potentially greater damages.