British Columbia Severance Pay Calculator
Estimate the statutory minimum termination pay in British Columbia from your length of service and weekly pay.
Below the minimum service of 3 months, there may be no statutory entitlement.
British Columbia termination pay rules
British Columbia requires 'compensation for length of service' — 1 week's pay after 3 months, rising to a maximum of 8 weeks after 8 years of employment.
- 1 week after 3 months; 2 weeks after 1 year; 3 weeks after 3 years; then +1 week per additional year, to a maximum of 8 weeks.
- No payment is required if the employee is given the equivalent amount of written working notice instead.
- These are statutory minimums — common-law reasonable notice is often much higher.
This estimates the BC statutory minimum. Common-law reasonable notice for non-unionized employees can be substantially greater (often around a month per year of service). Consult an employment lawyer for dismissals.
Termination pay by length of service
| Completed service | Weeks' pay |
|---|---|
| 3 months+ | 1 week |
| 1+ years | 2 weeks |
| 3+ years | 3 weeks |
| 4+ years | 4 weeks |
| 5+ years | 5 weeks |
| 6+ years | 6 weeks |
| 7+ years | 7 weeks |
| 8+ years | 8 weeks |
Frequently asked questions
It is based on length of service — broadly one week's pay per year, up to a maximum of 8 weeks. You generally qualify after 3 months of employment. The calculator multiplies the weeks owed by your weekly pay.
No. This is the statutory minimum set by employment standards. Non-unionized employees can often claim common-law reasonable notice instead, which is frequently much higher — sometimes around a month of pay per year of service. The statutory amount is a floor, not a ceiling.
Yes. Employers can usually provide the equivalent period of written working notice, pay in lieu, or a combination. Termination pay is what is owed when sufficient notice is not given.
The statutory termination entitlement is capped at 8 weeks' pay. Additional entitlements (such as Ontario's separate ESA severance pay or common-law notice) can exceed this.