🔴

Phase 1: The First 4 Hours

Get information, protect yourself

Your adrenaline is still going. Use it. Get the information you need and protect yourself before you lose access to anything. Every minute counts right now.

Request everything in writing

Before you leave the building (or end the video call), ask for written confirmation of termination, your severance offer in writing, your benefit termination date, and confirmation your ROE will be filed.

Do not sign the severance package

Most initial severance offers are below what you're legally entitled to, especially for professionals earning $100K+. Common-law severance, based on court precedent, is almost always higher than statutory minimums. Rule of thumb: roughly 1 month per year of service for mid-level; senior professionals often get more.

Save your personal files and contacts

Download personal files, export your contact list, screenshot your benefits summary, and note your manager's and HR's contact info. Do NOT take confidential company information.

Check your benefits conversion window

Most group insurance policies give you 31-60 days to convert to an individual plan with guaranteed acceptance (no medical questions). Your provincial health plan (OHIP, MSP, etc.) continues regardless of employment.

Tell one trusted person

Call your partner, a close friend, or a family member. Not to vent. To say: 'This happened. I'm okay. I'm going to handle it.'

🟡

Phase 2: The First 24 Hours

Set up safety nets, get financial clarity

The adrenaline has faded. Now it's time to get your financial picture clear, set up the safety nets, and start making moves that protect your future.

Calculate your financial runway

Add up take-home severance + savings, divide by monthly essential expenses. This number tells you how much time you have. Note: lump-sum severance over $15K is withheld at 30% (your actual tax may be higher at 43-53% for $100K+ earners).

Apply for Employment Insurance (EI)

Do this immediately at canada.ca/ei. Don't wait for your ROE. EI pays 55% of average insurable earnings up to $729/week. Current temporary measures (until Oct 2026): waiting period is waived and severance does NOT delay EI benefits.

Check if your ROE has been filed

Log into My Service Canada Account. Your employer must file within 5 calendar days. If delayed, you can still apply for EI. Service Canada will follow up (employers can be penalized up to $2,000 per late ROE).

Contact an employment lawyer

For $100K+ professionals, this almost always pays for itself. Most offer free initial consultations. Many work on contingency. They can tell you if the offer is fair, whether you have a constructive dismissal claim, and how to negotiate.

Review your severance offer in detail

Check: total amount vs common-law entitlement, benefits continuation, pro-rated bonus, equity/stock options, vacation payout, non-compete/non-solicit clauses (non-competes are banned in Ontario for most employees since Oct 2021), and reference language.

Pause non-essential spending

For the next 30 days: pause unused subscriptions, shift to cooking at home, defer major purchases. Not austerity. Just buying yourself time to be strategic instead of desperate.

Review your tax situation

If you have RRSP room, contribute your severance to reduce taxable income. Your employer can transfer directly, avoiding the 30% withholding. If laid off late in the year, ask if severance can be paid in January to split across two tax years.

🟢

Phase 3: The First 72 Hours

Position yourself for a strong job search

You've handled the urgent stuff. Now it's time to set yourself up for a strong search, not a desperate one. The decisions you make this week shape the next few months.

Resource	Link
Apply for EI	canada.ca/ei
My Service Canada (check ROE)	My Account
EI Temporary Measures	Current rules
CRA My Account (RRSP room)	CRA Account
Ontario Severance Standards	ontario.ca
Law Society of Ontario Referral	Free 30-min consult
Job Bank Canada	jobbank.gc.ca

Province	Notice/Pay in Lieu	Severance Pay	Max Combined
Ontario	1-8 weeks	1 wk/yr up to 26 wks	34 weeks
BC	1-8 weeks	None (statutory)	8 weeks
Alberta	1-8 weeks	None (statutory)	8 weeks
Quebec	1-8 weeks	None (statutory)	8 weeks
Federal	2 weeks	2 days/yr	Varies

The Layoff Survival Checklist:
25 Steps For the First 72 Hours

Request everything in writing

Do not sign the severance package

Save your personal files and contacts

Check your benefits conversion window

Tell one trusted person

Calculate your financial runway

Apply for Employment Insurance (EI)

Want the full list?

Phase 1: The First 4 Hours

Request everything in writing

Do not sign the severance package

Save your personal files and contacts

Check your benefits conversion window

Tell one trusted person

Phase 2: The First 24 Hours

Calculate your financial runway

Apply for Employment Insurance (EI)

Check if your ROE has been filed

Contact an employment lawyer

Review your severance offer in detail

Pause non-essential spending

Review your tax situation

Phase 3: The First 72 Hours

Update your LinkedIn (carefully)

Download your work samples

Make a list of 20 people to contact

Write down your top 10 achievements

Research your target salary

Set up job alerts

File for available government programs

Check your non-compete and non-solicit

Set a daily structure

Tell your network (on your terms)

Assess your skills gaps

Set a 30-day checkpoint

Remember: this is temporary

Need more than a checklist?

Want personalized help with your job search?

The Layoff Survival Checklist:25 Steps For the First 72 Hours

Request everything in writing

Do not sign the severance package

Save your personal files and contacts

Want the full list?

Phase 1: The First 4 Hours

Request everything in writing

Do not sign the severance package

Save your personal files and contacts

Check your benefits conversion window

Tell one trusted person

Phase 2: The First 24 Hours

Calculate your financial runway

Apply for Employment Insurance (EI)

Check if your ROE has been filed

Contact an employment lawyer

Review your severance offer in detail

Pause non-essential spending

Review your tax situation

Phase 3: The First 72 Hours

Update your LinkedIn (carefully)

Download your work samples

Make a list of 20 people to contact

Write down your top 10 achievements

Research your target salary

Set up job alerts

File for available government programs

Check your non-compete and non-solicit

Set a daily structure

Tell your network (on your terms)

Assess your skills gaps

Set a 30-day checkpoint

Remember: this is temporary

Need more than a checklist?

Want personalized help with your job search?

The Layoff Survival Checklist:
25 Steps For the First 72 Hours