Employment Standards Assignment

1. What is the Employment Standards Act?

The Employment Standards Act is an act that ensures that employees in BC are treated fairly, open communication is encouraged, employees meet work and family
responsibilities to foster the development of a productive and efficient labour force.

 Who is not covered by this act?

Ones who are excluded by regulation 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 is the standard minimum wage of $11.35 per hour and the liquor server minimum wage of $10.10 per hour. The new minimum wage will be $12.65
per hour.

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?
The minimum hours are two.

 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?
Overtime over the time of 8 hours is paid in 1 ½ the employee’s regular wage. This means the extra two hours will cost the same as working 3 hours, resulting
in receiving 11 hours of wages.

 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?
You would be paid 2 hours’ worth. If you were scheduled to work for 8-hours that day, the employer would have to pay you 4 hours’ worth unless it was
completely out of the employer’s control. If it wasn’t, the employer would only have to pay 2 hours worth.

 How many times a month must your boss pay you?

Your boss must pay you semi-monthly or a minimum of 2 times per month.

4. Work Breaks:
 How often does an employer have to give you a 30 minute meal break?
The employee is required to receive an 30-minute break every 5 hours of work.

 How many coffee breaks does an employer have to give you?

Coffee breaks are not required to be given by the employer. It will be given out by the employer’s own discretion.

 What is a split shift?

A split shift is a shift made up of two smaller shifts. The shifts are to be completed within 12 hours of eachother.

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.
As the employee is receiving a pay check twice a month, it is perfectly allowed even if it is inconsistent.

 What must appear on your written or electronic pay statement (pay stub) each pay period?
The wage statement must include the employer’s name and address, the hours worked by the employee, the employee’s wage rate, the employee’s
overtime wage rate, the number of overtime hours worked by the employee, any other payment that the employee is entitled to, any deductions from the
employee’s wages and the reason behind each deduction, the employee’s gross and net wages, and how the wage is calculated if theemployee is not paid by
the hour or by salary during each period.

 What is vacation pay? How much is it?

Vacation pay is the pay an employee receives while on a vacation. After 5 days, the employee receives 4% of their original pay. After 5 years, the employee
receives 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 buys the equipment as well as in charge of keeping the equipment safe.

 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 pays for the uniforms as well.

 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 provides the uniform but the employee cleans their own clothes.

8. Deductions:
 What deductions must you pay (or have come off your cheque)?
Deductions don’t have to be paid for unless permitted or required by the ESA.

 What deductions are optional (your choice) to have come off your pay cheque? Provide examples.
Other deductions are available for you if the employee agrees with them. A situation is when the employee asks that the wage is directly paid to a third party.

9. Statutory Holidays:
 What are the two (2) conditions that you must meet in order to be paid for a statutory holiday?
Worked or earned wages for 15-30 days. Worked under an averaging agreement under section 37 at anytime within that 30 day period.

 How much do you make per hour if you work a statutory holiday? __________
The employee is paid an amount equal to at least an average day’s pay determined bt the formula “amount paid / days worked”

10. Leaving the Job:

 Do you have to give your employer advance notice that you are quitting your job?
Advanced notice is not a requirement.

 Why would it be a good idea to let them know?

many employers appreciate the consideration and reporting in makes their life much easier in terms of managing the schedule.

 What does being laid off mean?

Being terminated for reasons other than one’s work performance.

 When would you get terminated?

You would get terminated if you quit, retire, your work performance is not up to standards, etc

 What are some reasons that an employer can fire you? Does the employer have to give you notice that you are
being fired?
Poor standards, inappropriate behavior, etc. The employers don’t have to give you a notice but have to give you termination pay.

 If you are fired how long does the employer have before s/he must pay all your wages?
Two days unless you quit. That will be 6 days.

 What is a Record of Employment (ROE)?

A record of employment records where an employee has worked, how long they have worked, and how much money they have made.
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? _________
after 4 years _______
2 weeks after 12 consecutive weeks, 3 weeks after 5 consecutive years.

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?
Recording the information will help you with the investigation of the incident.

 Why do you think it would be a good idea to keep a record of the days and hours you have worked?
To avoid being underpaid and scammed by employers.

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

I will never know if the employer I work for will be a good one or a bad one. If I don’t know my rights and get it violated without knowing, it would get away without
anyone knowing. However, with the knowledge in mind, I would be able to quickly call out the problem and exercise my workers rights to protect both myself and my
co-workers.