New Brunswick Severance Pay Calculator

Estimate the statutory minimum termination pay in New Brunswick from your length of service and weekly pay.

WH By WageHour Tools Editorial Team Verified against official sources January 1, 2026 How we research
This is the statutory floor, not the likely payout. In Canada, dismissed non-unionized employees can often claim common-law reasonable notice, which is frequently far higher — sometimes around a month per year of service. Treat this number as the legal minimum.

New Brunswick termination pay rules

New Brunswick's Employment Standards Act requires written notice of termination (or pay in lieu) based on continuous service: 2 weeks after six months, rising to 4 weeks after five years. There is no separate statutory 'severance pay' beyond this notice entitlement.

  • 2 weeks' notice or pay in lieu after 6 months but less than 5 years of continuous employment.
  • 4 weeks' notice or pay in lieu after 5 years or more of continuous employment.
  • No statutory notice is required in the first six months of employment, or where there is just cause for dismissal.

New Brunswick has one of Canada's shorter statutory notice scales and adds no separate severance pay on top. Common-law reasonable notice for non-unionized employees is frequently much higher — often around a month per year of service. Confirm with an employment lawyer before a dismissal.

Termination pay by length of service

Completed service Weeks' pay
6 months+ 2 weeks
5+ years 4 weeks
Official sources

Frequently asked questions

How is statutory termination pay calculated in New Brunswick?

It is based on length of service — broadly one week's pay per year, up to a maximum of 4 weeks. You generally qualify after 6 months of employment. The calculator multiplies the weeks owed by your weekly pay.

Is this the same as common-law severance?

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.

Can an employer give notice instead of pay?

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.

What's the maximum statutory amount in New Brunswick?

The statutory termination entitlement is capped at 4 weeks' pay. Additional entitlements (such as Ontario's separate ESA severance pay or common-law notice) can exceed this.