Changed recently
Showing all 18 facts
| Fact | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special (lower) minimum wages for students or servers | No federal student, liquor-server or farm sub-minimum; one rate applies | 2026-09-07 | Canada Labour Code, s. 178 (minimum wage) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Overtime rate | At least 1.5 times your regular rate for every overtime hour | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 174 (overtime pay) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Refusing overtime for family responsibilities | You may refuse overtime to care for a family member, in limited cases | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 174.1 (refusal of overtime) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Standard hours before overtime starts | 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 169 (standard hours of work) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Meal or rest break | 30 minutes unpaid in every 5 consecutive hours of work | 2026-09-07 | Canada Labour Code, s. 169.1 (breaks) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Notice of your schedule and of shift changes | 96 hours notice of schedule; 24 hours written notice of a shift change | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 173.01 (notice of work schedule) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Rest between shifts | At least 8 consecutive hours off in each 24-hour period you work | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 169.2 (rest period) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Severance pay (separate from notice) | The greater of 2 days pay per full year worked, or 5 days pay | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 235 (severance pay) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| When a temporary layoff becomes a termination | A layoff of 3 months or less is not a termination; longer needs recall terms | 2026-09-07 | Canada Labour Standards Regulations, s. 30 ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| How far back unpaid wages can be recovered | The Labour Program can recover up to 24 months of unpaid wages | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 251.1 (payment order) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| How to file a federal labour standards complaint | Free; a written complaint to the Labour Program, usually within 6 months | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 251.01 (filing a complaint) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Can a recruiter charge you a fee for a federally regulated job | No recruitment fee may be charged to a temporary foreign worker | 2026-09-08 | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 209.3 (employer conditions) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Canada Labour Code presumption of employee status | A person paid remuneration is presumed an employee unless the employer proves otherwise | 2024-06-20 | Canada Labour Code, s. 167.01 (Part III) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| How a federal workplace becomes unionized | 35-50% membership triggers a representation vote; a majority certifies the union | 2026-09-08 | Canada Industrial Relations Board, Labour Relations - Certification ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Minimum age to work in a federally regulated job | 18, raised from 17 on June 12, 2023, with a transitional exception | 2023-06-12 | Canada Labour Code (RSC 1985, c. L-2), full text ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Personal leave (family, urgent matters, citizenship ceremony) | 5 days a year; first 3 paid after 3 months of employment | 2026-09-07 | Canada Labour Code, s. 206.6 (personal leave) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| Right to refuse dangerous work | You may refuse if you have reasonable cause to believe the work is a danger | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 128 (refusal to work if danger) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
| What a probation period changes federally | No statutory probation; notice starts at 3 months, job protection at 12 | 2026-09-08 | Canada Labour Code, s. 230 (notice of termination) ✓ 2026-09-09 |
iamonmybreak publishes general information for working people. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Rules differ by province and country and change over time; the date at the top of this piece is when we last checked. For your specific case, especially anything involving money you are owed, contact a free community legal clinic or your provincial or territorial labour standards office.