As a federally regulated employer, you must know your obligations regarding wages, leave, hours of work, statutory holidays, termination and benefits.

Alberta

Alberta employment standards

Only Applies to : ALBERTA

Find rules regarding wages, hours of work, overtime, vacations and other leave, termination of employment, and employees under 18 years of age.

Employment Standards Tool Kit for Employers

Only Applies to : ALBERTA

If you are an employer in Alberta, find out how to comply with the Employment Standards Code and Regulation.

British Columbia

Employment Standards Self-Help

Only Applies to : BRITISH COLUMBIA

Use this kit as a first step to solve workplace disputes between you and your employees without intervention from the Employment Standards Branch.

BC Employment Standards Information and Forms

Only Applies to : BRITISH COLUMBIA

If you are an employer in British Columbia, find out the information you need to comply with the Employment Standards Act.

Manitoba

Employment Standards (Manitoba)

Only Applies to : MANITOBA

Be aware of your responsibilities as an employer in regards to minimum wage, keeping records, termination, hours of work, and leave.

New Brunswick

Employment Standards (New Brunswick)

Only Applies to : NEW BRUNSWICK

Find out about employment rules, such as minimum wage, overtime pay, vacations with pay and sick leave.

Notice of dismissal, layoff or termination

Only Applies to : NEW BRUNSWICK

Learn what your obligations are with regards to employment standards in New Brunswick when terminating an employee.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Labour Relations and Standards (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Only Applies to : NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Get information on labour standards, assistance with resolving workplace issues or help with collective agreements.

Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council

Only Applies to : NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Get support on employer issues such as labour legislation, workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, regulations and standards.

Labour Standards — Frequently Asked Questions (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Only Applies to : NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Find labour standards information for Newfoundland and Labrador, including minimum wages, deductions, working hours, vacation, and benefits.

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Employment Standards

Only Applies to : NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

If you own a business you need to be aware of your responsibilities in regards to minimum wage, leave, holidays, overtime and wage deductions.

Nova Scotia

Guide to the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code

Only Applies to : NOVA SCOTIA

Find information on a number of labour standards topics, from overtime rules to notice requirements when an employee quits.

Employment rights

Only Applies to : NOVA SCOTIA

You and your employees have rights under Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code. Learn the details.

Ontario

How to make workplaces accessible

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Ensure that your employee attraction, hiring and human resources practices meet Ontario accessibility requirements.

What businesses need to know

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Learn about employment standards and your rights and responsibilities as an employer in Ontario.

Employment Standards in Ontario (other languages)

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Find out about your obligations related to wages, leave, statutory holidays, hours of work and overtime in languages other than English and French.

Prince Edward Island

Employment standards

Only Applies to : PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

As an employer on Prince Edward Island, you need to be aware of the employment regulations that affect your employees and your business operation.

Quebec

Normes du travail du Québec

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

If you are an employer, you must familiarize yourself with and comply with Quebec labour standards and the acts and regulations governing them.

Human resources (Quebec)

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Keep informed of your rights and responsibilities when hiring and managing employees, as well as when their employment ends.(in French only)

Events not covered by a labour standard

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Learn about situations where the Labour Standards Act makes no provision for leave, paid or unpaid, for an employee wishing to take time off.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan employment standards — Permits and variances

Only Applies to : SASKATCHEWAN

As an employer, you need to get permission to deviate from the rules and regulations of the The Saskatchewan Employment Act.

Minimum age of employment and young worker workplace restrictions — Saskatchewan

Only Applies to : SASKATCHEWAN

If you are an employer in Saskatchewan, you must comply with the regulations concerning the minimum age of employment when hiring employees.

Employment standards (Saskatchewan)

Only Applies to : SASKATCHEWAN

If you are a provincially-regulated employer, make sure you understand your obligations regarding wages, working hours, vacation, statutory holidays, termination, benefits and compliance.

Yukon

Employment Standards (Yukon)

Only Applies to : YUKON

Understand your responsibility towards your employees concerning hours of work, vacation entitlement, and various types of leave.

Sector-specific employment standards

Canada

Federal construction contracts

Learn about the labour conditions and wage requirements that you must meet in order to win construction contracts with the federal government.

Manitoba

A Guide to Employment Standards in Agriculture (Manitoba)

Only Applies to : MANITOBA

Are you an agri-business employer? Learn more about your rights and responsibilities.

Ontario

Employment standards for temporary help agencies

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Learn about the Employment Standards Act and how it affects your temporary help agency business in Ontario.

Hiring and managing a homeworker in Ontario

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Learn what a homeworker (someone doing work for you out of his or her own home) is and understand your responsibilities as the employer.

Managing retail workers in Ontario

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Learn what your responsibilities are for managing retail workers in Ontario.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan employment standards for restaurants and food services

Only Applies to : SASKATCHEWAN

If you are an employer in the restaurant and foodservices industry in Saskatchewan, know your rights, responsibilities and obligations under the Saskatchewan Employment Act.

Saskatchewan employment standards — Retail industry

Only Applies to : SASKATCHEWAN

Understand your obligations as a retail employer in Saskatchewan. The Standards apply regardless of the number of hours an employee has worked.

WAGES AND PAYROLL

As an employer, you are required to pay your employees at least the minimum wage established for your province or territory. For most occupations, there is one hourly minimum wage that applies. However, there are some exceptions for young workers and people in specific occupations. When paying your employees, you will also need to take off taxes and other deductions and remit them to the government.

To find out more about wages and payroll requirements, browse these resources:

Canada

Benefits and allowances

If you provide your employees with taxable benefits, you need to add the value of those benefits to the employees’ income in order to determine the amount that is subject to source deductions.

Minimum hourly wage rates for young workers and specific occupations

Find the wage rates for certain groups of people to whom the general minimum wage does not apply.

Current and forthcoming minimum hourly wage rates for experienced adult workers in Canada

Find out what the current minimum wage is in each province and territory, and get information on any planned increases.

Wages, pay and deductions (federally regulated employers)

If your business is federally regulated, find out about the requirements you must comply with regarding minimum wage, vacation pay, and more.

Employer responsibilities — The payroll steps

As an employer, you must follow a number of steps for managing your employees’ payroll. Understand your obligations.

Payroll

Learn how to deduct Canada Pension Plan contributions, EI premiums and income tax from your employees’ pay, and report to CRA.

Manitoba

What is minimum wage? (Manitoba)

Only Applies to : MANITOBA

Find out about the minimum wage in Manitoba and how it applies to your business.

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Payroll Tax

Only Applies to : NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

If you are an employer in the Northwest Territories, you need to register with the Department of Finance within the first 21 days of your first payroll cycle.

Nova Scotia

Pay and wages (Nova Scotia)

Only Applies to : NOVA SCOTIA

Do you have questions about minimum wage, overtime and vacation pay? Learn all about pay regulations here.

Ontario

A Guide To Interpreting Ontario’s Pay Equity Act

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Did you know if you employ 10 or more people, your business must pay your male and female employees the same salary for equal or comparable work?

Minimum wage in Ontario

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Find out about minimum wage regulations and make sure you are paying your employees the right rate.

Quebec

Source deductions and contributions

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Find out all you need to know about payroll deductions and employer/employee contributions in Quebec, as well as the procedures to be followed.

monCalcul

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Calculate the benefit amount to which your employees are legally entitled for common situations such as vacation days, statutory holidays and overtime pay.

Guide for employers: Source deductions and contributions

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Obtain information on the source deductions that you must make when you have paid employees.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan minimum wage regulations

Only Applies to : SASKATCHEWAN

Know the obligations you have to your employees regarding minimum wage.

HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME

There are provincial and territorial standards that set out the number of hours an employee can be required to work per day and per week. The standards on hours of work also set out rules for meals and break periods. These standards apply to most employees and most situations. However, there are some exceptions and specific rules for overtime, emergencies and certain professions or job functions.

Canada

Hours of work (federally regulated employers)

Learn about the requirements for hours of work and overtime that apply to federally regulated employers.

Nova Scotia

Breaks, period of rest (Nova Scotia)

Only Applies to : NOVA SCOTIA

Find out everything you need to know about Nova Scotia regulations on hours of work, break requirements, the right for employees to refuse unsafe work, and more.

Ontario

Hours of work (Ontario)

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Find out about the requirements for hours of work and overtime pay for your employees.

Quebec

Overtime

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Learn about the requirements for hours of work and overtime pay for your employees.

Public holidays

In most cases, you will need to pay your employees for public holidays. The list of public holidays and the specific rules regarding public holidays are set out in provincial and territorial labour standards.

Canada

Vacation and general holidays (federally regulated employers)

Find out about the standards for general holidays and what your obligations are as a federally regulated business.

Nova Scotia

Vacation and holidays (Nova Scotia)Only Applies to : NOVA SCOTIA
Learn about the vacation pay and designated holidays to which your employees are entitled.

Ontario

Public holiday pay calculator

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Use this online calculator to estimate how much you will need to pay your employees for Ontario’s 9 public holidays.

Your employees and public holidays (Ontario)

Only Applies to : ONTARIO

Learn about the rights of your employees during Ontario public holidays, including rules for specific industry sectors.

Quebec

Statutory holidays

Only Applies to : QUEBEC

Learn about the paid leave and statutory holiday payments to which your employees are entitled.

CONTACT INFORMATION

You should contact the Employment Standards Branch in the province or territory in which you are working.

If you work for a federally regulated business or industry, you should contact the Federal Labour Program.

Federal Labour Program

Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal Labour Standards

Toll Free: 1-800-641-4049

If you do not work for a federally regulated business or industry, the employment standards that regulate your conditions of work are likely covered by a provincial or territorial employment standards office found below.

Alberta

Labour

Employment Standards Branch

Toll free: 1-877-427-3731

Fax: (780) 422-4349

TDD/TDY: 780-427-9999 (in Edmonton)

British Columbia

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour

Employment Standards Branch

Toll free: 1-800-663-3316

Outside British Columbia: (250) 612-4100

Manitoba

Manitoba Labour and Immigration

Employment Standards

Telephone: (204) 945-3352 (Winnipeg)

Toll free: 1-800-821-4307 (outside Winnipeg)

Fax: (204) 948-3046

New Brunswick

Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Employment Standards Branch

Telephone: (506) 453-2725 (Fredericton or outside New Brunswick)

Toll free: 1-888-452-2687

Newfoundland and Labrador

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Labour Standards Division

Telephone: (709) 729-2743/729-2742

Toll free: 1-877-563-1063

Northwest Territories

Education, Culture and Employment

Employment Standards

Telephone: (867) 767-9351 option 3

Toll free: 1-888-700-5707

Fax: (867) 873-0483

Nova Scotia

Labour and Advanced Education

Labour Standards Division

Telephone: (902) 424-4311

Toll free: 1-888-315-0110

Fax: (902) 424-0648

Nunavut

Department of Justice

Labour Standards Office

Telephone: (867) 975-7293

Toll Free: 1-877-806-8402

Fax: (867) 975-7294

(Note: minimal information on website)

Ontario

Ministry of Labour

Employment Standards Branch

Telephone: (416) 326-7160 (Greater Toronto Area)

Toll free: 1-800-531-5551

TTY: 1-866-567-8893

Prince Edward Island

Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour

Employment Standards Branch

Telephone: (902) 368-5552

Toll-free: 1-800-333-4360

Fax: (902) 368-5476

Quebec

Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)

Toll free: 1-844-838-0808

Saskatchewan

Advanced Education, Employment and Labour

Labour Standards

Telephone: (306) 787-2438 (Regina)

Toll free: 1-800-667-1783

Fax: (306) 787-4780 (Regina)

Yukon

Department of Community Services

Employment Standards Branch

Telephone: (867) 667-5944

Toll free: 1-800-661-0408, extension 5944

Nadia Zaman( Lawyer )

I am a Senior Associate at Rudner Law. I am honoured to have been nominated as Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the Changemakers category in 2023 & 2024. I consider myself lucky to be practicing Employment Law for a living, representing both employers and employees – building strong relationships with my clients through empathy and understanding, helping them navigate through complex workplace problems, and obtaining the best results possible. This is what motivates me to be a trusted advisor and a relentless advocate.

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COVID-19: Federal and Provincial Resources

CONTENTS

BLOG

COVID-19 UPDATES ACROSS CANADA

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

TEMPORARY LAYOFFS AND LEAVES

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACROSS CANADA

WAGES AND PAYROLL

HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME

CONTACT INFORMATION

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