WORKING IN BC:

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

Troy Friesen
Block: D

1. Glossary: (Pages 2 & 21)

a. Averaging Agreement: a person legally appointed or empowered to act
on behalf of another
b. Collective Agreement: an agreement between employers and
employees which regulates the terms and conditions of employees in
their workplace
c. Gross Pay: your pay before deductions
d. Double time: twice the amount of your regular pay
e. Net Pay: your take home pay after deductions
f. Time and a half: one and a half times your regular wage
g. Under the Table: employment not reported to the state
h. Variance: when employers, with the agreement of the employees, ask
the branch to vary or change how parts of the act apply to them
2. What is the Employment Standards Act?
The employment standards act is a BC law that outlines the lives of
employees and the responsibilities of employers. /1

3. What is the role of the Employment Standards Branch?

The employment standards branch is the office that enforces the law. /1
4. What is the phone number and website of the ESB?
1-800-663-3316 www.labour.gov.bc.ca/ESB. /1
5. List the people who are NOT covered by the ESB.
Babysitters
Secondary school students working at their schools or enrolled in
work experience or occupational study
Newspaper carriers who attend school and work 15 hours a week or
less
Persons receiving financial assistance from government who
participate in certain government sponsored employment programs
/1
6. Who are covered by Collective Agreements?
People who belong to unions
/1
7. What Government issued document must you have in order to be hired in
BC?
/1
8. How old must you be to work in BC?
Children ages 12 to 14 may work restricted hours but once a child reaches
15 there are no restrictions and if you are under 12 years old employers must
get written permission from the employment standards branch
/2
9. Define minimum wage.
Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money employers can pay
10.What is minimum wage in BC?
The minimum wage is $10.25 per hour

/1
/1

11.Define Minimum Daily pay.

If you go to work requested by your employer you must get paid at least two
hours of work even if there is no work for you to do, and if you are called in
to an 8 hour shift you must get paid at least four hours of work.
/2
12.Besides shifts worked, what duties must an employer pay you for.
Training or oreintation
/1
13.What should be included on your pay cheque?

Your wage, rate, commission flat or piece rate; total hours worked in the pay
period, overtime, deductions, gross pay, net pay, hous banked and employers
name and address
/1
14.What can an employer deduct from your wages?
Canada pension plan, employment insurance plan, income tax(in most cases)
and court ordered garnishes
/1
15.Define Special Clothing (p.21). Who pays for the upkeep of this?
Clothing that is easily identified with a company logo or unique company
colours
/2
16.Define Dress Code. Who pays for the upkeep of this?
Special clothes you have to wear to work or at your estblishment
/2
17.Describe what work breaks are you entitled to.
Every five hours your employer must allow you at least a 30 minute rest
period
/1
18.What is a split shift?
A split shift is 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?
After eight hours of work in one day
19.When must you be paid double time?
Your employer must pay you two times your regular wage for each hour
worked after 12 hours `
/1
20.How is weekly overtime calculated?
When it adds up to over 40 hours in one week you must be paid overtime /1
21.Do employers have to pay you if you are sick and cannot work?
The law does not require employers to pay you if you are sick and cannot
work
/1
22.What vacation time are you entitled to?
/2

23.What is vacation pay?

/2
24.How many statutory holidays are there in BC
/1
25.How can you be eligible for stat holiday pay?
/3
26.How does the ESA protect you if you take an unpaid leave?
/1
27.Name 6 unpaid leaves which are covered by the ESA?
/1
28.What should you do if you feel your working conditions are unsafe?
/1
29.What does the Human Rights Code state about discrimination in the
workplace? What are the protected grounds?
/2
30.What is a layoff and when does it become a termination?
/2
31.Does an employer need to provide a reason to fire you?
/1

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

/3
33.What is a T4?
/1
34.What are the disadvantages of working under the table?
/1
35.What steps should you take if you have a problem at work?

/2
36.What is the purpose of the Employment Standards Self-help Kit?
/1