Boss gave me the papers!

[Emel712]

I worked for an employer for over 14 years in the art business. He recently had to have surgery and closed the business temporarily. When he did that, he gave me papers to fill out for employment insurance. He told me he wasn't sure when he will be re-opening and will call me when he needs me back. I am under the impression he let me go with out notice or severance pay. I'm afraid he might hire me back and then fire me a month later, so he doesn't need to give me notice or severance pay.

Is there anything I can do?

 

[cbg]

Yes, file for unemployment like he told you to.

Even if you're right, it is legal for him to let you go without notice or severance unless you have a bona fide, binding contract that says otherwise. Unless this business is big enough to invoke WARN, notice is NEVER required, and severance is only required under very limited circumstances in Maine, Massachusetts and Hawaii.