Employment Standards Assignment

1. What is the Employment Standards Act?

This is an act administered by the Ministry of Labour that sets out minimum standards for most
B.C. workplaces.
Who is not covered by this act?
Any employees in unions, or any employees don’t fall under provincial jurisdiction are not
covered by this act.
2. Minimum Wage:
Are there two minimum wages? Explain. What are the new minimum wages going to be?
Yes, there are 2 minimum wages, one applies to all employees no matter how they are paid, and
one is for liquor servers, this is $1.25 less than the regular. The newest minimum wages are
$11.35 per hour for all employees except liquor servers, whose new minimum wage is $10.10.

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?
You must be paid for at least 2 hours if you are scheduled for 8 hours or less, if you are scheduled
for over 8 hours, you must be paid for at least 4 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?
They must pay you for the 8 hours, then for 3 hours after, so 11 total.

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?
The employee must at least be paid for 2 hours
How many times a month must your boss pay you?
Your boss must pay you at least twice a month.
4. Work Breaks:
How often does an employer have to give you a 30 minute meal break?

An employer must give you at least one 30 minute meal break every 5 hours.
How many coffee breaks does an employer have to give you?
Employers are not required to provide any coffee breaks.
What is a split shift?
A split shift is when an employee’s day of work is divided into multiple separate sessions, which,
including breaks, must take place within 12 hours.
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, the employer is not allowed to do this, because the pay period between January the 18th and
February the 10th is 23 days, but no pay periods can exceed 16 days.
What must appear on your written or electronic pay statement (pay stub) each pay period?
On you pay stub, there should be details about hours worked, rates of pay, deductions, and
earnings, the employer must keep these records for 2 years after employment ends.
What is vacation pay? How much is it?
Vacation pay is when you are paid during your vacation, this is at least 4% of the employee’s
total earning from the last year. There is no vacation pay if you have worked there for 5 days or
less, if you have been employed for under a year, you have no vacation time, but at the end of
your employment, you must be paid 4% vacation pay. If you have been employed for at least a
year, vacation pay is at least 4% of your previous year’s total earnings. If you have been
employed for 5 years in a row, your vacation pay rises 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 is required to pay for this equipment, as this is not a dress code, but special
clothing, it must also be cleaned and maintained by 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

You are required to supply this outfit, as this is not a uniform, or any special clothing, but only a
dress code, which you are required to supply for yourself.
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 company is required to supply the special shirt with the company logo on it, and keep it
clean, but you are required to supply and clean the bottoms, as they are only part of a dress code,
not any special garments.
8. Deductions:
What deductions must you pay (or have come off your cheque)?
Any taxes, or mandatory deductions such as employment insurance premiums, Canadian pension
plan contributions, or any legally necessary ones.
What deductions are optional (your choice) to have come off your pay cheque? Provide
examples.
With your written permission, an employer can deduct for medical premiums, extended health or
dental coverage, charitable donations, or pension plan contributions, if these amounts are both tax
deductive and maintenance payments.
9. Statutory Holidays:
What are the two (2) conditions that you must meet in order to be paid for a statutory holiday?
You have been in employment for at least 30 days, and you have been working at least 15 of the
30 days before the holiday, (not under an averaging agreement).
How much do you make per hour if you work a statutory holiday?
An average day’s pay and time-and-a-half for the first 12 hours, and double for any hours after
12.

10. Leaving the Job:

Do you have to give your employer advance notice that you are quitting your job?

No, this is not mandatory.
Why would it be a good idea to let them know?

It is good to let them know so they can either accept or reject this, you may receive
compensation, or they may leave you a referral letter. This is likely to help the employment end
on good terms, which is easier if it isn’t a surprise.
What does being laid off mean?

Being laid off means you were not released because of your work or performance, it has
nothing to do with you, but simply company needs. Maybe downsizing, financial strength, or a
new direction can be causes of being laid-off, unrelated to your performance.
When would you get terminated?

Termination could be voluntary, done by the employee, or involuntary, when you are dismissed
or laid-off. You may be terminated at any time, if you have notice, then you will have less
compensation if any, or if you don’t, you will receive compensation.
What are some reasons that an employer can fire you? Does the employer have to give you notice
that you are being fired?

You can be fired for just cause, this can include serious infractions, such as stealing, fraud,
dishonesty, assault, etc., or unsatisfactory behavior, to a high enough extent. In these cases, the
employer can terminate you with no notice or compensation required.
If you are fired how long does the employer have before s/he must pay all your wages?

All your wages must be paid within 48 hours of the last day you work.
What is a Record of Employment (ROE)?
This is a form given to you by your employer that states the benefits you may receive from
Employment Insurance. It records how long you worked, how much money you earned, and why
you are leaving the employer.

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? ____0___ after 4 years ___2__

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?
This can help determine what happened, explain it to the officials, and figure out who made the
mistakes. These details are very important in making sure your rights are respected, or to clarify if
they weren’t.
Why do you think it would be a good idea to keep a record of the days and hours you have
worked?


Because your employer could make a mistake anytime, this is a good way to ensure you are
receiving the right pay, what you earned. This record could help decide some of your other rights
such as statutory holiday pay, or what benefits you can have, so it is important to make sure your
employer has it right.
13. Explain why it is your responsibility to know your rights as a worker.
It is your responsibility to know your rights, and make sure they are being followed. An employer
may not know your exact rights, so you need to watch they are respected yourself. This will help
ensure you are in a workplace that is safe for you and others. You should know to what extent to
obey the employer, and what to do in case of an accident.