Can I get EI if I quit my job?
You cannot get EI regular benefits unless you had “just cause”. This means that you had to quit because you had no other “reasonable” choice.
The law does not say what a reasonable choice is. Service Canada looks at your specific situation to decide if you had just cause.
If you do not return to work when you’re called back after a layoff, Service Canada sees this as quitting your job.
If you have a problem at work, Service Canada expects you to try to fix the problem before you quit. For example, if your employer is not paying you on time, you should first try to fix the problem by talking to them.
If the problem is so serious that it cannot be fixed, you might qualify for EI if you quit.
But it’s a good idea to start looking for another job before you quit. Keep a record of your job search.
Just cause for quitting
If you can prove that you had just cause for quitting your job, you can get EI. There are many situations that could be just cause for quitting.
Here are some examples:
You were discriminated against for one of the following reasons:
- your race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or religion
- your gender, sexual orientation, or sex, which includes discrimination because of pregnancy or childbirth
- your marital status or family status
- you have a disability
- your age
- you were convicted of a crime but have a pardon or record suspension
- you belong to a union
Your employer or supervisor:
- refuses to pay you for work you did
- forces you to work too much overtime
- harasses you, even after you ask them to stop
- did something that was against the law
- pressured you to leave your job
- expected you to work in dangerous conditions
- cut your wages significantly or made major changes to your duties
Even if one of the examples applies to you, that might not be enough to be just cause. And there could be other reasons for leaving that Service Canada will see as just cause.
It’s best to get legal advice before you quit your job if you want to claim EI benefits. See Where can I get help and information?
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