Do You Still Receive Employment Insurance if You Quit Your Job?

What is Employment Insurance?

Employment insurance (EI) is a government program overseen by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) that provided temporary financial support and assistance to unemployed workers while they are looking for employment or upgrading their skills.

Who Can Receive Employment Insurance?

In order to be eligible for EI, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, legally allowed to work in Canada,
  • You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN),
  • Your job is considered insurable employment,
  • The reason for your job loss is through no fault of your own,
  • You have been out of work for at least 7 consecutive days over the last 52 weeks,
  • You're ready, willing, and able to work,
  • You're actively looking for a new job

Workers receive EI benefits only if they have contributed to the EI system in the past year and meet qualifying and entitlement conditions.

The EI program also provides special benefits to workers who take time off work due to specific life events such as, maternity or paternity leave, caregiving responsibilities, or illness.

Who Cannot Receive Employment Insurance?

If any of the following apply, you may be denied EI benefits:

  • You voluntarily quit your job without good reason (no just cause),
  • You were fired because of poor work conduct,
  • You are involved in a labour dispute

Quitting For a Good Reason

You may qualify for EI if you can prove that you had "just cause" to quit, meaning you quit for a good reason. Some "just cause" reasons include:

  • Workplace harassment or violence (sexual, teasing, bullying, etc)
  • Discrimination (age, race, sex, etc)
  • Moving to another place of residence with a spouse/partner or dependent child
  • Workplace is proven to be unsafe or unhealthy
  • Immediate need to care for an immediate family member
  • Employer refuses to pay overtime rate
  • Employer is breaking the law
  • Supervisor is creating a difficult work environment
  • Significant changes to terms and conditions of the job that affects salary
  • Significant change in work duties

Without just cause for leaving your job, you will not be eligible for regular EI benefits.

Before You Quit

Before you leave your job, it is strongly recommended that you take every step possible to avoid becoming unemployed, otherwise you will not be considered to have just cause for quitting. And if so, you will not be eligible to receive EI benefits. You should try to rectify the situation with your employer or union representative to see if the problem at work can be fixed such as asking to have your work schedule changed, or asking to transfer to a different department, or even requesting a temporary leave until an ideal solution can be found.

You should also consider reviewing your collective agreement or employment contract to determine what protocols may be in place for handling certain situations that apply to your circumstances. You can also look at the applicable legislation that tends to apply to employment issues such as workplace health and safety regulations or human rights acts/codes.

Ultimately, if things cannot be rectified within your employment, the best thing for you to do, before you quit, is ensure you have secured another job, or have a strong prospect of one lined up, or else just cause will need to be proven.

Connect With Suzanne Desrosiers Professional Corporation

If you are looking for guidance or have any questions about employment insurance or quitting your job, please feel free to reach out to Suzanne Desrosiers Professional Corporation by calling us at (705) 268-6492 or emailing us at info@sdlawtimmins.com and we would be more than happy to help!