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Changing jobs

Occasionally, live-in caregivers have reason or need to change employers. If this happens, you have the right to leave your employer. You don't need permission from your present employer to accept another live-in care giving job with someone else. You cannot be deported for quitting a job or for looking for other employment. You must realize, however, that you are responsible for finding a new employer. If you came to Canada with a help of an agency, this agency should help you.

Your new employer must get a validated offer of employment from a CEC. You must get a new employment authorization before you begin to work for your new employer. You can get an application kit for your employment authorization from any CIC or you can download it from their web site:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/extend-worker.html

If your employment authorization is about to expire and you have not yet found a new employer, or the CEC validation has not been processed, send in your application to renew your employment authorization, along with a letter of explanation, at least three weeks before the expiry date of the document. Be sure to include your file number, full name, and date of birth and make sure to keep a copy for yourself. Do not allow your employment authorization to expire, even for one day. It is your responsibility to keep your authorization valid.

Working for anyone other than the employer named on the employment authorization is illegal. Similarly, you must not accept "trial employment" where a new employer offers to "try out" your services for a few weeks or months to determine if you are suitable for a one-year contract.

"Trial employment" is also illegal for your employer. Remember that sub-standard wages paid for unauthorized employment may be very difficult to recover under provincial labour legislation. Unauthorized employment will not count toward meeting the two-year employment requirement to apply for permanent residence in Canada under the program.