Can I sue my former employer in court?
If you left your job or got fired, you might have a claim against your employer. And you might have the option of suing your employer in court.
But if you're a unionized worker, you can't sue your employer in court. Talk to your shop steward or representative about what to do. You have rights in your .
Choosing court or the Ministry of Labour
If you're trying to get that an employer owes you, you can't sue in court and make an employment standards claim to the Ontario Ministry of Labour. You have to choose one or the other.
Some of the differences are:
- how much work you have to do
- how easy or complicated it is
- costs
- financial risks
- how long you can expect the process to take
- what you can claim
- who can make the employer pay if you win
It's important to get legal advice before you decide what to do.
Choosing which court
If you're suing an employer for $35,000 or less, you do this in Small Claims Court.
If you want to sue for more than $35,000, you have to do this in Superior Court. It's very hard to do this without a lawyer. If you want to sue in Superior Court, you should try to get legal help If you have a low income, you might be able to get help from Pro Bono Ontario.
