Milwid v. IBM Canada Ltd.
Wrongful Dismissal: 38-Year Employee Awarded 27 Months Notice
Appeal history
- Appealed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario: Milwid v. IBM Canada Ltd., 2023 ONCA 702 (CanLII) (appeal dismissed)
Summary
This wrongful dismissal case involved a plaintiff terminated without cause after 38 years of service, where the court extended the reasonable notice period to 27 months due to exceptional circumstances including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The court applied the Bardal factors and the Matthews two-step test to determine entitlement to damages for unvested Restricted Stock Units, discretionary bonuses, and pension contributions, while also finding the plaintiff's mitigation efforts reasonable despite limited interview outcomes.
Outcome
Notice period extended to 27 months; damages awarded for unvested RSUs and pension contributions; bonus claim denied.
Award
27 months' notice; damages for unvested RSUs and pension contributions quantified by parties.
Key Factors
- wrongful dismissal
- reasonable notice
- COVID-19 pandemic impact
- Restricted Stock Units
- mitigation of damages
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This summary was written by AI from the published decision and its headnote. It is not an official version of the decision; read the full text on CanLII before relying on it. This is legal information, not legal advice. Ontario Severance is an educational tool. If you are facing a serious employment law matter, consult with a qualified employment lawyer in Ontario.