Employment Standards Assignment

1. What is the Employment Standards Act?

The Employment Standards Act is an act that establishes and regulates the minimum standards applicable in most BC
workplaces.
The act was established to make sure that all employees in BC received at least basic standards of compensation, along
with conditions of employment. The act is meant to promote fairness in regards to the treatment of employees and
employers, as well as encourage open communication between the two. The act helps provide justified, efficient
procedures when resolving disputes over the use of this act, and its goal is to create a productive labour force that can
contribute to the prosperity of our province. This act also helps employees meet their work and family responsibilities.
Who is not covered by this act?
Union employees who do not fall under the provincial jurisdiction 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 are minimum wages; there is a normal wage, and a liquor server wage.
New minimum wage: $10.85
New liquor minimum wage: $9.60

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 worker must be paid for two hours.

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?

When working overtime, you must be paid 1.5 times your normal wage.
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?

The person must be paid for 2 hours, or the actual amount of time the person worked for. It depends on which
number is greater.

How many times a month must your boss pay you?

An employee has to be paid a least twice a month.
4. Work Breaks:
How often does an employer have to give you a 30-minute meal break?
A worker cannot work for more than 5 consecutive hours without a meal break.
How many coffee breaks does an employer have to give you?
This depends. The employer has the liberty of giving coffee breaks.
What is a split shift?
A split shift is where an employee works for two or more separate periods in a day.
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.

No, this is not permitted, because a pay period cannot be longer than 16 days, and the time gap between January 18th
and February 10th exceeds this limit.

What must appear on your written or electronic pay statement (pay stub) each pay period?
Hours worked, rates of pay, earnings, and deductions must all be included in each pay period.
What is vacation pay? How much is it?
Vacation pay is when an employee goes on a vacation after finishing a year of employment. The pay is at least four
percent of the employees total earnings from the year before.

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? $450
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 employee must pay for equipment, since it is not considered special clothing or a uniform.

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
This is a dress code, and not a uniform, so once again the employee must pay for the clothes.

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.
This must be paid, cleaned, and provided by the employer, for it meets the guidelines of being special clothing (it
has a specific colour and logo on it). The pants or skirt however may not be provided by the employer, as it
pertains more to a dress code rather than a uniform.

8. Deductions:
What deductions must you pay (or have come off your cheque)?
Deductions that are required by the law (such as income tax) must be paid.
What deductions are optional (your choice) to have come off your pay cheque? Provide examples.
Optional deductions include expenses such as health and dental coverages, and charitable donations. Of course, the
employee must consent to these deductions.

9. Statutory Holidays:
What are the two (2) conditions that you must meet in order to be paid for a statutory holiday?
You must have been employed for the last 30 (calendar) days, and worked at least half of the 30 days before the
holiday.
 How much do you make per hour if you work a statutory holiday? You are paid 1.5x for the first 12 hours, and paid
double after 12 hours.

10. Leaving the Job:

Do you have to give your employer advance notice that you are quitting your job?
Yes, as it is essential for the employer to understand why you are leaving the job.
Why would it be a good idea to let them know?
It would be rather unexpected for an employee to disappear all of a sudden. With advance notice, the employer is
able to replace the leaving employee faster.
What does being laid off mean?
Being laid off is essentially the formal term for being fired, but usually because of the employers financial reasons,
and not performance issues.
When would you get terminated?

What are some reasons that an employer can fire you? Does the employer have to give you notice that you are
being fired?

You can be fired for various reasons. Some reasons include misconduct, being dishonest with your employer,
failure to follow procedures, poor performance, and use of drugs and alcohol. It is not required for the employer
to provide notice when you are being fired.
If you are fired how long does the employer have before s/he must pay all your wages?

What is a Record of Employment (ROE)?

Record of Employment is history of your employment, and other important information.

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 _______

I am entitled to two weeks of vacation of the first year. This is still the same for working for 4 years, but you will
earn 3 weeks of vacation if you work for 5 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 details of an incident can be used as evidence to defend yourself from accusation. You can also use the
details when providing a report to your employer regarding the incident.

Why do you think it would be a good idea to keep a record of the days and hours you have worked?

Keeping a record of how long you worked is helpful because you can keep track of your earnings, make sure you
arent being cheated by your employer, as well as solve any disputes over pay that might appear.

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

As an employee, it as essential to know these rights, so that I can maintain that my employer is not taking advantage of
me. The Act is comprehensive and helps me understand the basic rights I should be receiving from my employer, and if I
am being treated with dishonesty by my employer, I can always refer to this act when resolving a dispute.