How much notice is a short-service employee entitled to in an Ontario wrongful dismissal claim?

Short-service employees are still entitled to common law reasonable notice, not just the ESA minimum, but the actual notice period they receive tends to be shorter than for a long-service employee, since length of service is one of the key factors courts weigh in the overall calculation. That said, courts have recognized that very short-service employees can sometimes receive a notice period that seems disproportionately long relative to their brief time with the employer, particularly where they gave up other stable employment or relocated specifically to take the job.

The underlying question is what is fair and reasonable given all of the circumstances, not a strict mathematical formula tied directly to months worked. Age, the nature of the role, and the local job market for that type of position still matter considerably, even for an employee with very little service. Because there is no fixed formula, and courts have sometimes surprised employers with the notice awarded to short-service employees, getting a specific assessment of the actual situation is far more useful than assuming a short tenure automatically means minimal notice.