You’ve worked hard. You’ve built relationships, delivered results, and stayed loyal to your role for five or more years. Then new management shows up and suddenly, things change. You’re excluded from meetings. Criticized without reason. Given impossible tasks or shuffled into irrelevant projects. It’s subtle, but deliberate.
You’re not imagining it , and you’re not powerless.
Here’s what you need to know if new leadership is trying to push you out.
1. This Could Be Constructive Dismissal
In Ontario, if your job has been changed in a fundamental way, your responsibilities are downgraded, your working conditions are poisoned, or your authority is undermined, the law may treat it as a termination, even if you haven’t been fired.
That’s called constructive dismissal, and it means you may be entitled to severance or more under common law.
2. Start Documenting Everything
Keep records. Write down dates, emails, changes in duties, and performance reviews. If you’re suddenly being disciplined or put on a performance improvement plan (PIP) with no prior warning, that’s worth tracking.
This paper trail can make or break your case later — especially if you’re pressured to resign.
3. Don’t Quit Without Legal Advice
It’s tempting to walk away when you feel cornered. But quitting without legal advice could mean giving up entitlements you’ve earned over years of service. If you feel like you’re being forced to leave, get advice first. It may count as a dismissal, but only if it’s handled properly. Resigning under pressure may feel like the only way out. But quitting without first speaking to a lawyer can cost you thousands in lost compensation. If your resignation is a result of intolerable conditions, it may be legally considered a dismissal, but only if handled carefully.
4. You May Be Owed Significant Compensation
If you’ve been with your employer for 5+ years, you may be entitled to several months of pay (or more) upon termination, depending on your age, role, and marketability. Don’t assume what your employer offers (if anything) is what you’re legally entitled to.
5. Get Legal Advice Before You Respond
Don’t confront HR, resign in frustration, or threaten legal action without a strategy. One short legal consult can clarify your rights and give you options, whether that’s negotiating an exit, pushing back internally, or building a constructive dismissal case.
📌 Not Sure if You’re Being Pushed Out?
If new management is making your job unbearable, don’t resign without understanding your rights. You may be entitled to compensation — even if you haven’t been formally let go.
Let’s talk through your options — clearly, confidentially, and without pressure
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