40 hours, overtime > 40 hours/week or > 8 hours/day
National Holidays
New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Civic Holiday (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day (statutory in some provinces)
Christmas Day
Boxing Day (not a statutory holiday in all provinces)
Leave
Paid general holidays include 10 days – such as New Year’s Day and Canada Day – while vacation benefits consist of 2 weeks after 1 year of employment (equivalent to 4% of wages) and 3 weeks after 5 years (equivalent to 6% of wages).
Employment Contracts
No federal or provincial law mandates written employment contracts but they are highly recommended to address locally mandated issues.
Types of Employment
There are two types of employment: Employees and Independent Contractors.
Employment Costs
Mandatory Employer Costs
a) Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Contributions
Employers match employee contributions.
2024 Rate: 5.95% on earnings between $3,500 and $68,500 (YMPE).
Maximum Employer Contribution (2024):$3,867.50 per employee.
b) Employment Insurance (EI) Premiums
Employers pay 1.4 times the employee’s EI contribution.
2024 Rate: 2.282% on insurable earnings up to $63,200.
Maximum Employer Contribution (2024):$1,442.08 per employee.
c) Workers’ Compensation Board (WorkSafeBC) Premiums
Employers must register with WorkSafeBC and pay premiums.
Rates vary by industry (e.g., office work is lower than construction).
Average rates range from $0.10 to $4+ per $100 of assessable earnings.
Employers can estimate costs using WorkSafeBC’s online calculator.
d) Vacation Pay
Minimum 4% (2 weeks’ pay) for employees with less than 5 years of service.
Minimum 6% (3 weeks’ pay) for employees with 5+ years of service.
Must be paid at least once per year.
IC Class Factors
Independent Contractor (IC) classification factors include the following: Degree of control of worker; Provision of own tools; Financial risk in own business; Responsibility for hired workers; Chance for profit; Degree of integration into the client’s work flow; Intent of the parties; Written contract
Labor Leasing
Labour leasing is not specifically regulated, but temporary staffing agencies are required to comply with labor standards and other applicable laws.
Minimum Wage Requirements
The minimum wage is $17.40.
Medical Benefits
Medical insurance is managed by the individual provinces. There is no requirement for medical benefits, but employers must adhere to employment contract terms if provided.
Probationary Periods
The probationary period lasts for 3 months, during which no termination notice is required.
Termination Notice
The termination notice requirements are as follows: Employees with 3 months to 1 year of service require 1 week of notice. Those with 1 to 3 years of service require 2 weeks of notice. Employees with more than 3 years of service require 3 weeks of notice, plus an additional week for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 8 weeks.
Severance
The amount of written notice and/or pay is based on how long an employee has been employed.
Amount of written notice and/or pay required
Length of employment
Amount required
3 months or less
No notice and/or pay
More than 3 months
1 week of notice and/or pay
More than 1 year
2 weeks of notice and/or pay
More than 3 years
3 weeks of notice and/or pay, plus 1 week of notice/pay after each additional year of employment (to a maximum of 8 weeks)
Pre-hire Checks
Pre-hire checks are permitted with consent and must be relevant to the job.
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