Your Record of Employment (ROE) in Ontario: What It Is and Why It Matters
The Record of Employment is the single most important document for your EI claim, and the reason your employer puts on it can affect your benefits. Here is how it works.
Key takeaways
- The ROE is the most important document Service Canada uses to decide your EI claim.
- Your employer generally must issue it within 5 calendar days of your earnings stopping.
- The reason code (shortage of work, quit, dismissal, illness) affects your EI eligibility.
- A wrong reason code can delay or block benefits you are entitled to.
- You do not need a paper copy; most ROEs are filed electronically with Service Canada.
In this article
When your job ends, one document matters more than almost any other for your next few months: the Record of Employment. It is how Service Canada decides whether you qualify for Employment Insurance and how much you get. A lot of people never look at theirs, and then wonder why their EI claim stalls. Here is what an ROE is, what your employer has to do, and why the reason code on it is worth checking.
✅Quick answer. The ROE is the form your employer files when your earnings stop, and it is the key document behind your EI claim. Your employer generally must issue it within five calendar days of the interruption of earnings. The reason code it uses, for example shortage of work (Code A), quit (Code E), or dismissal (Code M), affects whether and how quickly you can collect EI. Most ROEs are now filed electronically straight to Service Canada, so you may never see a paper copy.
What is a Record of Employment?
The ROE is a federal form that reports your work history with an employer: your insurable hours, insurable earnings, and the reason your earnings stopped. Service Canada uses it to decide whether you qualify for EI, what your benefit rate is, and how long you can collect. Your employer has to complete one whenever there is an interruption of earnings, which includes termination, layoff, a leave, or a stretch with no work and no pay.
What does your employer have to do?
Employers must issue the ROE promptly. For electronic ROEs, which are now the norm, the deadline is generally within five calendar days of the end of the pay period in which the interruption of earnings occurs. Electronic ROEs go directly to Service Canada, so your employer does not have to hand you a copy, though you can view yours through your My Service Canada Account. If your employer still issues paper ROEs, you should receive a copy.
Why the reason code matters
Block 16 of the ROE holds the reason for issuing it, and it can shape your EI claim:
- Code A (shortage of work): the usual code for a layoff or termination without cause, and the cleanest path to EI.
- Code E (quit): signals you left voluntarily, which can disqualify you from regular EI unless you had just cause to leave.
- Code M (dismissal): signals you were let go for misconduct, which Service Canada may investigate and which can delay or block benefits.
- Code D (illness or injury) / Code N (leave): used for medical or other leaves and can point you toward EI sickness or special benefits.
The important point is that the code reflects the employer's characterization, and it is not always right. If you were let go without cause but the ROE says Code E (quit) or Code M (dismissal for misconduct), that can wrongly stall your EI, even though how your dismissal is coded does not decide whether you have a wrongful dismissal claim.
What should you do about your ROE?
- 1.Check your ROE through your My Service Canada Account soon after your job ends.
- 2.Look at Block 16 and make sure the reason matches what actually happened.
- 3.If the code is wrong, ask your employer to amend it, and tell Service Canada your version if there is a dispute.
- 4.Apply for EI promptly, since waiting can cost you benefits.
Your ROE and your EI claim are separate from your right to severance. Even if you collect EI, you may still be owed far more in a wrongful dismissal claim, and EI is generally repaid out of a later severance settlement. If you are unsure whether your dismissal was handled properly, a severance review is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
How long does my employer have to give me my ROE in Ontario?
For electronic ROEs, which are now standard, the deadline is generally within five calendar days of the end of the pay period in which your earnings were interrupted. Electronic ROEs go straight to Service Canada.
Why does the reason code on my ROE matter?
The code in Block 16 tells Service Canada why your job ended. Shortage of work (Code A) is the cleanest path to EI, while quit (Code E) or dismissal (Code M) can delay or block benefits until Service Canada reviews the situation.
What if my ROE has the wrong reason?
Ask your employer to amend it and give Service Canada your account of what happened. A wrong code can stall EI you are entitled to. How your dismissal is coded does not by itself decide whether you have a wrongful dismissal claim.
Do I get a paper copy of my ROE?
Usually not. Most ROEs are filed electronically directly with Service Canada, and you can view yours through your My Service Canada Account. If your employer issues paper ROEs, you should receive a copy.
Priya Sharma
Legal Writer, Mirza Law
Priya Sharma is a legal writer at Mirza Law in Toronto. She writes about wrongful dismissal, workplace rights, and what Ontario employees can do when they are treated unfairly.
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