BCjobs Blog

Temporary foreign workers are covered by the provisions of the Act. They cannot be charged a fee for job placement. Employers cannot require them to stay for a set period of time, nor can they charge business or recruitment costs or deduct these costs from their employees’ pay cheques. Reprinted from http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/esaguide/#2

Employers and employees are encouraged to resolve disputes themselves. The Director of Employment Standards can refuse to investigate a complaint if an employee has not taken steps to resolve the problem themselves. This includes using a Self-Help Kit that is available on the Internet and at all employment standards offices. If a dispute cannot be […]

Before employing anyone under 15 years of age, an employer must have written consent from the employee’s parent or guardian. If the employee is under 12, the employer must also have permission from the Director of Employment Standards before work begins. See the factsheets General Employment for Young People and Employment of Young People in […]

Collective agreements must meet certain minimum standards set out under the Act. This includes minimum wage, termination notice, leaves and group termination. Some areas, such as overtime rates and statutory holidays can be negotiated outside the Act, however, if there is no provision in a collective agreement, the Act applies in these areas. Any disputes […]

An employer must pay an employee the following amount of vacation pay: after 5 calendar days of employment, at least 4% of the employee’s total wages during the year of employment entitling the employee to the vacation pay; after 5 consecutive years of employment, at least 6% of the employee’s total wages during the year […]

If an employer requires an employee to wear a uniform or special clothing, the employer must provide, clean and maintain it at no cost to the employee. Special clothing is clothing that is easily identified with the employer. For example, clothing with a company logo or unique company colours. Special clothing includes a requirement to […]

The nine statutory holidays in British Columbia are New Years Day Labour Day Good Friday Thanksgiving Day Victoria Day Remembrance Day Canada Day Christmas Day B.C. Day Family Day Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays. To qualify for statutory holiday pay employees must: Have been employed for at least 30 […]

All employees must be paid at least twice a month. A pay period cannot be longer than 16 days. All wages earned in a pay period must be paid within eight days after the end of the pay period. Employees must receive a written or electronic pay statement (pay stub) each pay day that gives […]

An employee who reports for work must be paid for at least two hours, even if the employee works less than two hours. If an employee who is scheduled for more than eight hours reports for work, he or she must be paid for at least four hours. If work stops for a reason completely […]

An employee must not work more than five hours in a row without a 30-minute unpaid meal break. An employee who is required to work or be available for work during a meal break must be paid for the meal break. Employers are not required to provide coffee breaks. Reprinted from http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/esaguide/#2