Record of Employment Explained: ROE, EI Claims & What to Look For
What the ROE is, why it matters for EI, and what to check when yours arrives.
Written and reviewed by Rocco Clayfield, Founder & DirectorLast reviewed
Short answer
A Record of Employment (ROE) is the document your employer issues whenever there is an interruption of earnings — such as a layoff, resignation, or leave — that may make you eligible for Employment Insurance benefits. Service Canada uses the ROE to determine whether you qualify for EI, how many weeks of benefits you may receive, and the benefit rate. Key information includes your total insurable hours (Block 15A), insurable earnings by pay period (Block 15B and 15C), and the reason for issuing the ROE (Block 16). You typically do not need a paper copy if your employer filed electronically — Service Canada receives it automatically.
When your employment is interrupted — whether due to a layoff, end of a contract, illness, pregnancy, or any number of other circumstances — your employer is required to issue a Record of Employment (ROE). This single document is the starting point for any Employment Insurance claim you make with Service Canada.
Many Canadians are unfamiliar with the ROE until they actually need to claim EI, and the first encounter can be confusing. The form contains blocks of coded information that directly affect how much EI you may receive and for how long. Understanding what each block represents helps you spot potential errors early — errors that could delay your claim or result in incorrect benefits.
What this page helps you check
- Is your name, SIN, and employer information correct on the ROE?
- Is the first day worked (Block 10) and last day for which you were paid (Block 11) accurate?
- Does Block 15A (total insurable hours) align with your records of hours worked?
- Does Block 15B (insurable earnings by pay period) reflect the earnings on your pay stubs?
- Is the reason for issuing (Block 16) correct — for example, layoff (code A), shortage of work (code B), leave of absence, or illness?
- Has your employer issued the ROE within the required timeframe after your last day?
- If your employer issues ROEs electronically to Service Canada, have you confirmed it was submitted and received?
- Are any special payments (severance, vacation pay, or statutory holiday pay) correctly noted in Block 17?
What Is the ROE and When Is It Issued?
The Record of Employment is a government-prescribed form (Service Canada form INS3518) that records your employment history with a specific employer for EI purposes. An ROE must be issued whenever there is an interruption of earnings — meaning you have been or will be away from work for at least seven consecutive calendar days without receiving any insurable earnings from that employer.
Common reasons an ROE is issued include: end of a contract or temporary position, layoff due to shortage of work, resignation, approved leave (parental, maternity, compassionate care, illness), and dismissal. The reason matters because different EI benefit types (regular, maternity, parental, sickness, etc.) correspond to different interruption-of-earnings codes.
Key Blocks on the ROE
Block 10 — First day worked: The first day you actually worked for this employer in the current employment period. For a returning employee, this is the date you returned after a previous interruption.
Block 11 — Last day for which paid: The last day for which you received insurable earnings. This is not necessarily your final physical day of work — it could be different if you received pay in lieu of notice or other terminal payments.
Block 15A — Total insurable hours: The total number of insurable hours you worked during the period covered by the ROE, up to the maximum allowed per week. This figure is critical because Service Canada uses it (along with the regional unemployment rate) to determine how many weeks of EI you may be entitled to receive.
Block 15B — Insurable earnings by pay period: A breakdown of your insurable earnings for each pay period in the reference period. Service Canada uses this to calculate your benefit rate, which is based on your best weeks of earnings.
Block 16 — Reason for issuing: A coded reason for the interruption. The code affects which type of EI you can apply for. For example, code A indicates shortage of work (regular EI); code P indicates illness, injury, or quarantine (sickness EI); code M and K relate to pregnancy and parental leave.
Block 17 — Vacation pay: Whether any vacation pay is owed to you and how it is being paid. If vacation pay is paid out as a lump sum, it may affect the start date of your EI claim, since Service Canada treats it as earnings allocated to the period it covers.
Electronic vs Paper ROEs
Most large employers file ROEs electronically directly with Service Canada. When this happens, you do not need to obtain a physical copy to start your EI claim — the ROE is already in Service Canada's system and attached to your Social Insurance Number. You can view your ROE online through your My Service Canada Account.
Smaller employers may still issue paper ROEs. If you receive a paper ROE, you will need to submit it (or its serial number) when applying for EI online or in person.
In either case, your employer is required to issue the ROE within a specific timeframe after the interruption of earnings. The exact deadline depends on how the employer files. Contact Service Canada or check their current guidelines if you believe the ROE was not issued on time.
How an Error on Your ROE Can Affect Your EI Claim
An incorrect Block 16 code could result in you being directed to the wrong type of EI benefit. An understated Block 15A (insurable hours) could reduce the number of EI weeks you are entitled to. An error in Block 15B (insurable earnings) could lower your weekly benefit rate. Incorrect dates in Blocks 10 or 11 could affect your benefit start date.
If you spot an error, ask your employer to issue an amended ROE as quickly as possible. You can also contact Service Canada directly if you believe your ROE contains inaccuracies and your employer is unresponsive.
Common red flags worth checking
These do not automatically mean there is an error. They are simply lines worth a closer look, or worth asking payroll to explain.
Insurable hours are lower than your records show
An understated Block 15A directly reduces how many weeks of EI you may receive. Compare the total against your own records of hours worked and raise any discrepancy with your employer promptly.
The reason for issuing code does not match your situation
An incorrect Block 16 code can direct you to the wrong EI benefit type or, in some cases, deny a valid claim. For example, a resignation code when you were actually laid off would require correction.
Vacation pay is incorrectly handled in Block 17
How vacation pay is reported affects when your EI benefits can start. If vacation pay was paid as a lump sum but Block 17 is blank or incorrect, your EI start date could be delayed. Confirm this with both your employer and Service Canada.
The ROE was not issued within the required timeframe
Employers must issue ROEs within a set number of calendar days after the interruption. A delayed ROE can delay your EI application. Contact Service Canada if you are approaching their application deadline without having received your ROE.
Your SIN or personal details are wrong
Service Canada matches the ROE to your SIN. An incorrect SIN means the ROE may not attach to your account, which will delay your claim.
Block 15B earnings do not match your pay stubs
Each pay period's insurable earnings in Block 15B should align with the insurable earnings shown on your pay stubs for those periods. Discrepancies here can affect your weekly benefit rate calculation.
Want this checked on your real pay stub?
Upload your pay stub or payroll document and get a plain-English breakdown with possible questions to ask payroll.
What to ask payroll or HR
Calm, specific questions get clearer answers. You can copy any of these, or build a full message with the Payroll Message Generator.
- “Can you confirm the reason for issuing code in Block 16 reflects my actual separation circumstances?”
- “The insurable hours in Block 15A do not match my records — can you provide a breakdown by pay period?”
- “Was my ROE filed electronically with Service Canada or will I receive a paper copy?”
- “How was my vacation pay handled in Block 17 — was it paid as a lump sum or allocated to specific weeks?”
- “What date should appear in Block 11 (last day for which paid), particularly given any pay in lieu of notice I received?”
- “Can an amended ROE be issued if we identify an error, and how quickly can it be submitted to Service Canada?”
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paper ROE to apply for EI?
Not necessarily. If your employer filed your ROE electronically, it is already in Service Canada's system and linked to your SIN. You can apply for EI online without submitting a paper copy. You can verify the ROE is there by checking your My Service Canada Account.
What is the difference between insurable hours and hours worked?
Insurable hours are the hours for which you received insurable earnings, up to a maximum of 35 hours per week for most employees (40 hours for those on a non-standard schedule). Hours that are not insurable — such as those in certain excluded employment categories — would not count. In practice, for most salaried and hourly employees, insurable hours closely mirror actual hours worked.
Can I receive EI if I voluntarily quit my job?
Generally, voluntarily leaving employment without just cause disqualifies you from regular EI. However, there are specific circumstances where quitting is considered "just cause" — such as harassment, significant changes to working conditions, or following a spouse who was relocated. Service Canada makes the determination on a case-by-case basis.
How long does my employer have to issue an ROE after my last day?
The deadline depends on how the employer files. For electronic filers, the ROE must generally be filed within a set number of calendar days after the first week in which an interruption of earnings occurred. Paper ROEs have a different timeline. Check Service Canada's current published deadlines, as they can be updated.
I had multiple jobs and only one employer issued an ROE — is that a problem?
If you had multiple jobs and the interruption only applies to one, you only need an ROE from that employer. If you lost all of your jobs, each employer should issue a separate ROE. Service Canada combines all insurable hours from all ROEs when processing your claim.
What happens if my employer refuses to issue an ROE?
You can contact Service Canada directly. They have processes to handle situations where an employer fails to issue an ROE in a timely manner, and they can intervene on your behalf.
Does the ROE affect Quebec employees differently?
The ROE is a federal document and the process is similar across Canada. However, Quebec employees pay into the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) rather than the federal EI parental and maternity benefits. For parental or maternity leave, Quebec residents apply to the QPIP through Revenu Québec / RQAP, not Service Canada. Regular EI (job loss, sickness) still goes through Service Canada.
I am on a temporary layoff — will my employer issue an ROE?
Yes. A temporary layoff is an interruption of earnings and requires an ROE. When you are recalled, if you return to the same employer, the previous ROE covers the period you were away. Your employer may issue a new ROE when the next interruption occurs.
Official sources for this page
Every figure here is derived from these. Where a number matters to you, read it at the source — PayStub IQ Canada explains the rules, it does not set them.
- How to complete the Record of Employment — Employment and Social Development Canada
- EI regular benefits: how much you could receive — Employment and Social Development Canada
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Helpful guidance, not advice
PayStub IQ Canada provides educational payroll explanations based on the information visible in your document. It does not provide legal, tax, accounting, payroll, CRA, Revenu Québec, or employment standards advice. For official decisions or corrections, contact your employer, payroll department, CRA, Revenu Québec, your provincial or territorial employment standards office, or a qualified professional.