Laid off at 11 weeks pregnant after 11 months. They're calling it a favour. Ontario — do I have a case?
I don't even know where to start with this honestly. This week I got laid off from my receptionist job out of nowhere — no cause given. I've been there 11 months.
The timing couldn't be worse. I'm 11 weeks pregnant. We literally just found out on Friday from an ultrasound. I hadn't said a word to anyone at work, but I know some people were starting to suspect something the past week or so.
When I first got hired they gave me a $1,500 signing bonus. Now they're saying they'll "generously" not claw it back — as long as I sign the termination paperwork. They're offering me one week of pay and two days of vacation. That's it.
I genuinely don't know what to do. We're really struggling financially and this has been a huge shock. I've tried calling the Law Society of Ontario for a free consultation but honestly it's been hard to get through.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Do I have any real options here or is this just how it goes? And should I be signing anything right now?
We have called Ontario Law Society and one lawyer said they have to reinstate back otherwise it is Human Rights violation but I am not sure how this could be proven.
Posted May 6, 2026, 11:13 PM UTC