WORKING IN BC:

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

6th Edition
https://www.surreyschools.ca/schools/tweeds/Departments/Planning/Docum
ents/Woring-in-BC-3-2012.pdf
or google working in bc your legal rights
Name:

Walker Dunn
Block: 4-D

Glossary: (Pages 2 & 21)

Averaging Agreement: A person legally appointed or empowered to
act on behalf of another
Collective Agreement:An agreement between employers and
employees which regulates the terms and conditions of the employees
in the workplace.
Gross Pay: Your pay before deductions
Double time:

Twice the amount of your regular wage

Net Pay: The amount of a person's paycheck left over after any
deductions are taken out.
Time and a half: You get 1.5 times your regular pay.
Under the Table:Being paid cash-in-hand or moonlighting, is illegal
employment.
Variance: When employers, with the agreement of their employees,
ask the Branch to vary or change how parts of the Act apply to them.

What is the Employment Standards Act?

a BC law that outlines the rights of employees, and the

responsibilities of employers. The Act sets the
minimum standards for working conditions
/1
What is the role of the Employment Standards Branch?
To enforce the law

/1

What is the phone number and website of the ESB?

1-800-663-3316
/1
List the people who are NOT covered by the ESB.
Babysitters,Secondary school students who work at school or enrolled
in work,newspaper carriers who attend school and work 15 hours a
week or less, and persons receiving financial assistance from
government who participate in certain government sponsored
employment programs.

Who are covered by Collective Agreements?

People who belong to unions.
/1
What Government issued document must you have in order to be
hired in BC?
Social Security Number
/1

How old must you be to work in BC?

12 through 14 must work restricted hours. 15 year olds have no
restrictions.
/

2
Define minimum wage.
Lowest amount of money your employer can pay.
/1
What is minimum wage in BC?
10.85$
/1
Define Minimum Daily pay.
If you were scheduled for more than eight hours work, you must be
paid at least four hours wages.

/2
Besides shifts worked, what duties must an employer pay you for.
Orientations, meetings, work uniforms
/1
What should be included on your pay cheque?
Total hours worked, gross pay, net pay, overtime, deductions, hours
banked, employers name and address.

What can an employer deduct from your wages?

Canada pension plan, employment insurance plan, income tax, court
ordered garnishees.
/1
Define Special Clothing (p.21). Who pays for the upkeep of this?
Company shirt, or uniform. The employer must pay for it.

2
Define Dress Code. Who pays for the upkeep of this?

Company standards. The employee must pay for this

Describe what work breaks are you entitled to.

Every five hours you must get a 30 minute rest period.
/1
What is a split shift?
When you work some hours, and then have an unpaid break and go
back to work on that same day.
/1
When must you be paid overtime?
When must you be paid double time?
When you work more than your scheduled shift. you must be paid
double time every hour after 12 hours.
`
/1
How is weekly overtime calculated?
After you've worked 40 hours.
/1
Do employers have to pay you if you are sick and cannot work?
No, unless you have what employers call sick pay.

/1
What vacation time are you entitled to?
Two weeks per year

2
What is vacation pay?
A percent of the total wages you earned in a year.

How many statutory holidays are there in BC

There are 10 Statutory holidays
/1
How can you be eligible for stat holiday pay?
Be employed for at least 30 calender days before the stat holiday,
worked or earned wages for 15 of 30 days before the stat
holiday,Worked under a averaging agreement any time in the 30 days
before stat holiday.

How does the ESA protect you if you take an unpaid leave?
They protect you from termination of employment.

Name 6 unpaid leaves which are covered by the ESA?

Pregnancy Leave, Parental Leave, Parental or Pregnancy Leave Pay,
Pregnancy or Parental Leave Notice, Family Responsibility Leave,
Bereavement Leave

What should you do if you feel your working conditions are unsafe?
Report it to your employer.
/1
What does the Human Rights Code state about discrimination in the
workplace? What are the protected grounds?
You are not allowed to discriminate. The protected grounds are
race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political beliefs, religion,
marital status, family status, physical or mental disability,sex, sexual
orientation, age, or because of being convicted of a criminal or
summary conviction of a criminal or summary eviction offence that is

unrelated to the employment

2
What is a layoff and when does it become a termination?

When employer tells employee they must take an unpaid leave from
work. If you are laid off for more than 13 weeks of a 20 week period it
is a termination.
/

2
Does an employer need to provide a reason to fire you?
No.

/1

What are you entitled to if you are terminated without notice?

You must be payed within 10 days of your last day of employment

What is a T4?
It indicates what you have been paid before deductions
/1
What are the disadvantages of working under the table?
Uneligible for employment insurance benefits, no protection from the
government
/1
What steps should you take if you have a problem at work?
Report the incident, Keep your own record of the incident, mark down
the date and place of where and when it happened.

2
What is the purpose of the Employment Standards Self-help Kit?
To help both the employee and employer settle disputes quickly and
fairly.
1