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3 MINFacts · Pay and rights at work · Canada

Pay and rights at work in British Columbia

What decides your paycheque and what an employer must do, by province.

40 facts · British Columbia
FactValueAs ofSource
B.C. general minimum wage18.25 CAD/h2026-06-01Province of British Columbia, Minimum wage
✓ 2026-09-09
Lower minimum wage for servers or studentsNone; liquor servers and students get the general minimum wage2021-06-01Province of British Columbia, Minimum wage
✓ 2026-09-09
Minimum wage for resident caretakers1,092.10 per month plus 43.75 per suite (9–60 suites)2026-06-01Province of British Columbia, Minimum Wage for Resident Caretakers — Regulation Part 4, Section 17
✓ 2026-09-09
When B.C. minimum wage goes upEvery June 1, by B.C.'s previous-year average inflation rate2024-06-01Province of British Columbia, Annual Adjustment of Minimum Wage — Act Part 3, Section 16.2
✓ 2026-09-09
Daily overtime1.5x after 8 hours in a day; 2x after 12 hours2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Overtime pay
✓ 2026-09-09
Weekly overtime1.5x after 40 hours in a week2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Overtime pay
✓ 2026-09-09
Who does not get overtime or statutory holiday payManagers and occupations listed in Regulation section 342026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Exclusions from Hours of Work & Overtime Requirements — Regulation Part 7, Section 34
✓ 2026-09-09
B.C. statutory holidays11 — see note. Boxing Day and Easter are not statutory.2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Statutory holidays
✓ 2026-09-09
How statutory holiday pay is calculatedAn average day's pay from the previous 30 calendar days2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Calculate statutory holiday pay
✓ 2026-09-09
Who qualifies for statutory holiday payEmployed 30 calendar days and worked 15 of the last 302026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Qualify for statutory holiday pay
✓ 2026-09-09
Vacation pay percentage4% of total wages; 6% after 5 years2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Annual vacation
✓ 2026-09-09
Vacation time2 weeks after 12 months; 3 weeks after 5 years2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Entitlement to Annual Vacation — Act Part 7, Section 57
✓ 2026-09-09
Group termination notice8, 12 or 16 weeks when 50+ are let go at one location2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Group Terminations — Act Part 8, Section 64
✓ 2026-09-09
How long a temporary layoff can last13 weeks in any 20 weeks, then it counts as termination2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Temporary layoffs
✓ 2026-09-09
Notice or pay when you are fired without cause1 week at 3 months, 2 at 1 year, 3 at 3 years, +1 a year, max 82026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Liability Resulting from Length of Service — Act Part 8, Section 63
✓ 2026-09-09
Termination pay for app ride-hail and delivery workersWritten notice or compensation for length of service, unless just cause2024-09-03BC Gov News, Fair pay, basic protections coming for gig workers
✓ 2026-09-09
Being called an independent contractorSigning a contractor agreement does not settle it2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Employee or independent contractor
✓ 2026-09-09
WorkSafeBC coverage if you are self-employedNot automatic; buy Personal Coverage, formerly Personal Optional Protection2026-09-07WorkSafeBC, Self-employed proprietors or partners
✓ 2026-09-09
Deadline to file an employment standards complaint6 months from your last day of work2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, File an employment standards complaint
✓ 2026-09-09
Appealing a Branch decision30 days to appeal to the Employment Standards Tribunal2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Appeal of Director's Determination — Act Part 13, Section 112
✓ 2026-09-09
Averaging agreementsWritten, signed before it starts, averaging over 1 to 4 weeks2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Averaging agreements
✓ 2026-09-09
Being suspended or deactivated by an appWritten reason required; reinstate or terminate within 14 days2024-09-03BC Gov News, Fair pay, basic protections coming for gig workers
✓ 2026-09-09
How a workplace becomes unionized in B.C.55% signed cards certifies it; 45–55% triggers a vote2022-06-02Labour Relations Board of British Columbia, The certification process
✓ 2026-09-09
How often you must be paidAt least twice a month, within 8 days of the pay period ending2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Paydays — Act Part 3, Section 17
✓ 2026-09-09
How to reach the Employment Standards Branch1-833-236-3700, weekdays 7:30 am to 5 pm Pacific2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Contact the Employment Standards Branch
✓ 2026-09-09
Job agency charging you to find workIllegal; any fee paid is treated as wages owed to you2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, No Charge for Hiring or Providing Information — Act Part 2, Section 10
✓ 2026-09-09
Minimum daily wage, live-in home support worker and live-in camp leader135.88 home support worker; 145.64 camp leader2026-06-01Province of British Columbia, Minimum Daily Wage for Live-In Home Support Worker & Live-In Camp Leader — Regulation Part 4, Section 16
✓ 2026-09-09
Minimum pay when you show up and are sent home2 hours' pay; 4 hours if scheduled over 8 hours2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Minimum daily pay
✓ 2026-09-09
Paid sick days5 paid days a year after 90 days with the employer2022-01-01Province of British Columbia, Paid sick leave
✓ 2026-09-09
Per-kilometre expense allowance for app workers0.45 ride-hail; 0.35 delivery, per km of engaged time2024-09-03Province of British Columbia, Distance Expense Allowance — ESR Part 7.2, Section 45.29
✓ 2026-09-09
Probation periodsNo probation exemption; the Act covers you from day one2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Quitting or getting fired
✓ 2026-09-09
Recruiter fees charged to foreign workersIllegal; recruiters must hold a B.C. licence2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Protections for foreign workers
✓ 2026-09-09
Refusing unsafe workYou may refuse; tell your supervisor, then WorkSafeBC if unfixed2026-09-07WorkSafeBC, Refusing unsafe work
✓ 2026-09-09
Tips and gratuitiesEmployer cannot keep your tips; managers share only if doing the same work2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Tips and gratuities
✓ 2026-09-09
Tips for app ride-hail and delivery workersThe platform must pay the worker 100% of customer tips2024-09-03BC Gov News, Fair pay, basic protections coming for gig workers
✓ 2026-09-09
Unpaid sick days3 unpaid days a year, on top of the 5 paid days2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Illness or Injury Leave — Act Part 6, Section 49.1
✓ 2026-09-09
What WorkSafeBC wage-loss benefits payAbout 90% of your calculated net earnings2026-09-07WorkSafeBC, Wage-loss benefits
✓ 2026-09-09
What can be taken off your payOnly what law requires or you agreed to in writing2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Deductions
✓ 2026-09-09
What must be on your pay stubWage rate, hours, overtime hours, all pay, each deduction2026-09-07Province of British Columbia, Wage Statements — Act Part 3, Section 27
✓ 2026-09-09
WorkSafeBC coverage for app ride-hail and delivery workersCovered, whether classed as employee or contractor2024-09-03WorkSafeBC, Coverage for app-based ride-hail and delivery services workers
✓ 2026-09-09

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How this page is checked

Before an approved update, the checker re-opens each source and looks for the exact claim. A ✓ shows the date that last succeeded. Archived copies may support explicitly historical claims, never current applicability.

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 state labour standards office.

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