Add Comment Question: Employment Standards of Ontario says that in order to qualify for severance pay, you have to work for the employer for five or more years and that the employer has a global payroll of at least 2.5 million or severed the employment of 50 or more employees because the business permanently closed. Is this true? I've worked for my boss for 30+ yrs, he's retiring and says he doesn't owe me severance because of the Employment Standards Law. He only has 3 employees. Answer: You are absolutely owed severance. You would likely be owed as much as 24 months. Full severance is not governed by Employment Standards. Please call us ASAP so that we can make sure you get what you are owed: 1855-821-5900 Your Comment * Your Email * Your Name * Your City Note, your name, city and email is not displayed on the website. It is used to notify you that we have approved your comment.