Reasonable Notice Before Terminating An Employment Contract : It's A Two Way Street

In a recent decision, the Superior Court of Quebec (the Hon. Danye Daigle) ordered an employee to pay an amount of $12,000 in damages as compensation for the failure to provide reasonable notice before terminating the employment contract (Phamarcie Jean-Sébastien Blais inc. c. Pharmacie Éric Bergeron et André Vincent inc.). 

The context

The employee, Jacques Lacombe, was a laboratory technician for the plaintiff,  operates a pharmacy in Shawinigan. Lacombe started working part-time for the pharmacy, which was owned by his father, in 1970 and began full time for the business in 1991. Although his father's business was sold, he continued his employment with the pharmacy. He knew the business and was well liked by the clients, with whom he had made a strong connection. It is worth noting that he benefited from good working conditions.