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THE QUESTION
I was just terminated from my job and was given no reason for it. I am quite shocked and disappointed. I had been working for the company for two years and received no warning or hints that it was coming, or that my work was sub-par. They said that it wasn’t because of poor performance, but that it was a business decision and that they couldn’t go into any further detail. It feels like I have no closure and I’m not sure what to do next. Is my former employer allowed to be so vague about why they’re letting me go? How should I talk about this experience when I’m interviewing for a new job?
THE FIRST ANSWER
Samantha Lamb, legal counsel and partner, Jewitt McLuckie & Associates, Ottawa
Unfortunately, unless you are a unionized employee, an employer can terminate your employment for almost any reason so long as they pay the correct amount of compensation as determined by the applicable employment standards legislation and/or common law notice. As long as the employer pays this amount, they don’t need a “good” reason for the termination and aren’t required to provide you with a reason.
While an employer can terminate employment for almost any reason, the one exception is that you can’t be fired for a discriminatory reason. It is always a good idea to review your exit package with an employment lawyer as your entitlements can vary depending on a variety of factors including your length of time with the company, your age, your specialization, the size of the company, the number of people being let go at the same time and the contents of your employment contract (if you have one) to name just a few.
While an employer doesn’t initially need to provide you with a reason for termination, their reasons may be relevant to an assessment of some of the factors that affect the amount of compensation. For example, is just your position being eliminated or is your whole department or a whole line of business being eliminated? If it is not already provided for in your exit package, you may also negotiate a written and verbal reference, which can include negotiating the official reason for your termination that both you and the employer will give to prospective employers.
THE SECOND ANSWER
Jivi Saran, executive coach, Vancouver
It’s understandable to feel shocked, even betrayed, in moments like this. What you’ve experienced is not just the loss of a job, but a disruption to your sense of stability and value. The fact that no specific reason was given adds to the sting – this kind of vagueness is common, yet it leaves a void where clarity should be.
Quantum thinking teaches us that life is not linear but filled with unexpected shifts that are often catalysts for transformation. From a quantum leadership perspective, this moment offers an opportunity, difficult as it may be to see right now. Your two years of work, dedication and effort are not invalidated by this sudden ending. Instead, they are part of the experience that will carry you forward, opening doors that you may not have seen coming.
Legally, employers can often remain vague, citing “business decisions,” but this doesn’t mean you have to carry the weight of this ambiguity. When speaking about this in interviews, frame it through a lens of growth: you contributed meaningfully, the company made strategic changes and now you are ready for new challenges. You weren’t let go because of performance issues, so lean into that truth.
What you can control now is how you show up – resilient, adaptive and prepared to embrace the next quantum leap in your career. This chapter doesn’t define you; it simply redirects your path.
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