No.
At law, employers are not obligated to provide employees, including dismissed employees, with a reference letter.
However, the courts have found that where an employer refuses to provide a former employee with a reference letter and this results in harm to the employee (i.e., they are unable to mitigate their damages by securing new employment), the employee may be entitled to aggravated or punitive damages as a result of the employer’s bad-faith conduct.
If you have any questions in relation to the termination of your employment, whether in relation to rights and entitlements upon dismissal, or whether you may have a claim arising from the termination of your employment, please contact Toronto employment lawyers, Sultan Lawyers, at (416) 214-5111 or via email to khayward@sultanlawyers.com.