If You Quit Your Job

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Richard Johnson, Ascent Employment Law in June 2023.

Quitting a job affects your legal rights to things like employment insurance benefits and compensation you are owed. Learn your rights if you quit, and steps to protect yourself.

What you should know

There are some key things to know if you quit (or intend to quit) your job.

What your employment contract says

A key factor affecting your rights when you’re leaving a job is your employment contract. It may include terms that deal with how your employment can be ended. (Note there’s always an employment contract between a worker and an employer, even if nothing is in writing.)

Many employment contracts set out how much notice the worker must give to the employer if they quit.

Make sure you’re aware of any term in your contract that might limit your future activities. For example, a non-compete clause that tries to limit your ability to take a similar job.

It's best to give your employer notice

BC’s main employment law doesn’t say you need to provide notice to your employer before quitting. But under common law, workers are expected to provide reasonable notice (more on what this means in a moment). This is to ensure your employer has enough time to adjust to your departure.

Your employment contract may set out how much notice you need to provide.

If not, the amount of notice must be reasonable in the circumstances. The factors in play include the duties and responsibilities you have, how long you’ve been in the job, and the time it would reasonably take the employer to have others handle your work or to hire a replacement.

For more junior workers, two weeks’ notice is common. For workers with a lot of responsibility, four weeks’ notice is more typical. However, these are only general guidelines.

The best way to tell your employer you quit is to give them a letter of resignation. To be effective, your resignation must be clear. Your employer should have no doubt about your intention to quit. Uttering the words “I quit!” as part of an emotional outburst is not enough.

If you give your employer notice

If you do give notice, your employer can accept or refuse.

If they accept, you’ll continue to earn your regular wage until your last day of work.

If your employer refuses (and says “take your things and go home, you’re done here”), they must pay you compensation. They must pay you for the amount of notice you have given. Or if your legal entitlement to notice on dismissal is a shorter period, they can pay you for that shorter period.

Your employer must pay any outstanding wages

Regardless of whether you notify your employer ahead of time that you’re quitting, your employer must pay all wages owed to you through your last day of work. This includes annual vacation pay, statutory holiday pay, and overtime.

If you’re covered by employment standards law, your employer must pay your outstanding wages within six days of your last day of work.

Your eligibility for employment insurance benefits

If you quit your job, you will usually not be eligible to receive employment insurance (EI) benefits. The exception to this rule is if you had no other reasonable choice except to leave your job.

Some examples are:

• you experienced sexual or other harassment
• you needed to move with a spouse or dependent child to another place of residence
• your employer made major changes to your work duties or pay

When you apply for EI, you will have to describe your situation and explain what steps you took to fix the problem before you quit.

Work out the problem

Taking these steps can help protect your rights if you quit your job.

Step 1. Try to fix the problem

If you haven’t quit your job yet, consider options to fix the problem. You might consider:

• talking with your employer
• talking with a trusted colleague or union representative
• asking for new duties or to work under a different manager
• taking job-protected leave instead of quitting

Step 2. Figure out if you have no other reasonable choice but to quit

If you quit your job and you want to get EI benefits, you must prove you had no other reasonable choice except to quit your job.

Step 3. Check your employment contract

Check the terms of your employment contract to make sure you meet any notice requirements on quitting your job.

Step 4. Start looking for another job

You can start looking for another job before you quit. If you don’t want your current employer to be contacted, indicate on your application that you’re applying “in confidence.”

Step 5. Give your employer notice

It’s best to prepare a letter. It doesn’t need to be overly detailed. It should fit on a single page and include:

• a clear statement that you're going to resign
• the date of your last day of work
• your appreciation for what you have learned
• an offer to help with the transition

Hand the letter to your employer in person. Even if it’s uncomfortable. It’s the professional thing to do.

Go deeper

We explain these steps in more detail and have more information on your rights if you quit your job. See our in-depth coverage of this topic.

Who can help

Helpful agencies

Consider reaching out to these agencies for help if you quit your job.

Employment Standards Branch

Administers the law in BC that sets minimum standards for workers.

Call 1-800-663-3316

Visit website

Employment and Social Development Canada

Administers the law that protects workers in federally-regulated industries.

Call 1-800-641-4049

Visit website

Legal advice

There are options for free or low-cost legal advice.

Access Pro Bono's Free Legal Advice

Volunteer lawyers provide 30 minutes of free legal advice to people with low or modest income.

Call 1-877-762-6664

Visit website

Access Pro Bono’s Everyone Legal Clinic

Clinicians provide affordable fixed-fee services on a range of everyday legal problems.

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