Employment Standards Assignment

1. What is the Employment Standards Act?

The employment standards act sets out the minimum standards that apply in most workplaces in BC.
Who is not covered by this act?
Employees in sectors that fall under federal jurisdiction such as airlines, banks, the federal civil service, post
offices, radio and television stations and inter-provincial railways
2. Minimum Wage:
Are there two minimum wages? Explain. What are the new minimum wages going to be?
There are two minimum wages for people who have a job including hunting or fishing. They rate is $56.95 if
they work less than 5 consecutive hours in a day, but its $113.95 if they work 5 or more hours in a day
whether or not the hours are consecutive. But there are a total of 5 different minimum wages, general
minimum wage, student minimum wage, liquor servers minimum wage, hunting and fishing guides minimum
wage, and homeworkers wage. But the other 4 minimum wages only have one rate.

3. Minimum Daily Pay:

What is the minimum amount of hours that you are paid if you show up for work, even if the boss sends you
home?
2 hours

You are scheduled to work an 8-hour shift then the boss asks you to work another 2 hours. How many hours must
s/he pay you for?

4 hours plus the 8 hours you worked

You show up for work and work 1 hour before a power failure happens so the boss sends the entire staff home.
How many hours must the boss pay each employee for the day?
2 hours
How many times a month must your boss pay you?
2 times a month
4. Work Breaks:
How often does an employer have to give you a 30 minute meal break?
every 5 (consecutive) hours
How many coffee breaks does an employer have to give you?
Enough so that the employees do not work more than 5 consecutive hours
What is a split shift?
A work shift compromising of two or more separate periods of duty in a day
5. Paydays and Payroll Records:
You were paid for the months of January on the 3rd and 18th and for February on the 10th and 14th. Is the
employer allowed to do this? Explain your answer.
No, because you have to pay your employees consecutively each month, in case they have a commitment or
something where they need that money, and know that they will get it on that specific date.
What must appear on your written or electronic pay statement (pay stub) each pay period?
Hours worked, rate(s) of pay, earnings and deductions
 What is vacation pay? How much is it?
Vacation pay is when an employee takes a vacation after completing one year of employment. Vacation pay must
be at least 4% of the employees total earnings from the previous year. But after 5 consecutive years of
employment that pay increases to 6%.

6. Overtime:
You earn $10 per hour. What would be your gross pay (before taxes) if you worked:
10 hours in one day? $110 30 hours in one week? $300
7.5 hours in one day? $75 50 hours in one week? $550
7. Uniforms and Special Clothing:
You work in a mill where you are required to wear hearing (ear) protection, steel-toed boots and safety (eye)
goggles. Who must pay for this equipment?
The employer

You work in a restaurant where you are required to wear tan coloured pants, a black collared shirt, belt and casual
shoes. Who is responsible for supplying the outfit? Explain
The employer, because the outfit is not necessarily something that is for safety, so its something that should be
purchased by the employer not the employee because if the employer doesnt buy a specific brand of tan
coloured pants its not going to put his life at risk.

You work at a golf course and are required to wear a white shirt with the company logo on it. You must also wear
dark coloured pants or skirt. Who is responsible for supplying the outfit? Cleaning it? Explain.
The employer will reimburse the employee for cleaning and maintaining the outfit and its supplied by the
company.

8. Deductions:
What deductions must you pay (or have come off your cheque)?
An employer must make deductions required by law (ie, income tax, CPP, EI), other deductions may be made if
employee agrees in writing
What deductions are optional (your choice) to have come off your pay cheque? Provide examples.
Any of the employers business costs from wages. Anything like cash shortages, breakage, damage to customer property
or loss resulting from a customer leaving without paying
9. Statutory Holidays:
What are the two (2) conditions that you must meet in order to be paid for a statutory holiday?
You must have been employed for at least 30 calendar days and have worked on at least 15 of the 30 days before
the statutory holiday
How much do you make per hour if you work a statutory holiday? Time-and-a-half for the first 12 hours worked
and double-time for after 12 hours. Plus An average days pay
10. Leaving the Job:
Do you have to give your employer advance notice that you are quitting your job?
Yes, you are expected to give your employer as much notice as possible before you quit. Although it is always nice,
if you have worked less than 3 months at a job no notice is actually needed
Why would it be a good idea to let them know?
So that they can find someone new quicker and if theres anything that you have to do before you leave you can
take your time with it and nothing will have to be flustered or a mess
What does being laid off mean?
Someone is being laid off for reasons other than performance, the company was perhaps restructuring or having
financial problems and so eliminated the job

When would you get terminated?

You would get terminated for basically doing anything that was against the rules of the workplace, and that put
you and your coworkers at risk. (eg. Stealing, damaging company property, poor performance, misconduct, drug
or alcohol possession at work,etc)
What are some reasons that an employer can fire you? Does the employer have to give you notice that you are
being fired?
An employer can fire and employee for any reason or no reason at all, But they cannot fire employees for reasons
that would violate anti-discrimination laws. No the employer does not have to give any notice that you are fired
If you are fired how long does the employer have before s/he must pay all your wages?
Within 72 hours
What is a Record of Employment (ROE)?
Provides information on employment history

11. Vacation Information:

You just started a full time job so how many weeks of holidays will you be entitled to in your first year? 2 weeks
after 4 years? 8 weeks

12. Protecting your rights:

Why is it a good idea to record the date, time and details of an incident that may have occurred at your work?
If you need that information for anything legal, or for something in the future it is good to have it all written down
as you can then remember it easier and in more detail. Also it would be harder for someone to accuse you of lying
if you have all the information written on paper than just held in your head.

Why do you think it would be a good idea to keep a record of the days and hours you have worked?
So if something comes up with your boss, say the amount of hours you worked and the amount recorded dont
match up, you have proof and it can be changed. Also for anything like overtime pay.

13. Explain why it is your responsibility to know your rights as a worker.

Because worker rights apply to us and so they come in handy to know in case an incident comes up, as it then gives you
leverage on the topic of discussion and you are more likely to succeed in whatever you are talking about. Also if you
know your rights and something you or someone else is doing seems off to you, you can bring it up to the manager and
are able to tell them straight up how this is against your rights and should be corrected.