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: Madelein Edge
Block: D
1. Glossary: (Pages 2 & 21)
a.
Averaging Agreement: A person legally appointed to act on behalf of another.
b.
Collective Agreement: An agreement between employees and employers
which regulates the terms and conditions of employees in the workplace.
c.
Gross Pay: Pay before deductions
d.
Double time: Twice the amount of your regular pay
e.
Net Pay: Pay after deductions
f.
Time and a half: 1.5x pay
g.
Under the Table: Employment not reported to state
h.
Variance: Employers ask the branch to change pay, with the support of
employees
2. What is the Employment Standards Act?
BC law explaining the rights of employees and responsibilities of
employers
/1
3. What is the role of the Employment Standards Branch?
To enforce the Employment Standards Act

/1

4. What is the phone number and website of the ESB?

1.800.663.3316www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb

/1

5. List the people who are NOT covered by the ESB?

Babysitters, secondary school students working at their school, work
experience , occupational study, newspaper carriers working less than 15 h/week

and attend school, someone on government financial aid or government employer

help.
/2
6. Who are covered by Collective Agreements?
Union people
/1
7. What Government issued document must you have in order to be
hired in BC?
Social insurance number
/1
8. How old must you be to work in BC?
15 (without parent consent)

/2

9. Define minimum wage.

Minimum amount you can be payed

/1

10. What is minimum wage in BC?

$10.85

/1

11. Define Minimum Daily Pay.

Minimum amount you can be payed in a day

/2

12. Besides shifts worked, what duties must an employer pay you for?
Orientation and meetings
/1
13. What should be included on your pay cheque?
Employers name, address, hours banked, gross pay, net pay, deductions,
overtime, hours worked in pay period, wage rate/flat price/commision
/1
14. What can an employer deduct from your wages?
No

/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. The employer pays for the upkeep.
/2
16. Define Dress Code. Who pays for the upkeep of this?

Set of rules for clothing. The employee pays.

/2

17.
Describe what work breaks are you entitled to.
30 minutes per 5 hours

/1

18.
What is a split shift?
Unpaid break in between shifts

/1

19. When must you be paid overtime?

After working more than 8h/day

/1

20.
When must you be paid double time?
` When you work past 12 hours
21.
How is weekly overtime calculated?
1.5x regular wage for every hour after having worked 40 h/week

/1

/1

22.
Do employers have to pay you if you are sick and cannot
work?
No
/1
23.

What vacation time are you entitled to?

After one year, two weeks, After
five years, 3 weeks.
/2
24. What is vacation pay?
4% of gross earnings, and after 5 years, 6% of gross earnings

/2

24. How many statutory holidays are there in BC?

Ten

/1

25. How can you be eligible for stat holiday pay?

Been employed for 30 days before the holiday, work/earn wages for 15-30
day before stat, have an averaging agreement in place 30 days before holiday /3
26. How does the ESA protect you if you take an unpaid leave?

The company cannot fire you, they need to give you an old or similar job
when you come back
/1
27. Name 6 unpaid leaves which are covered by the ESA?
Pregnancy leave, parental leave, family responsibility leave, bereavement
leave,compassionate leave and jury duty.
/1
28. What should you do if you feel your working conditions are
unsafe?
Contact WorkSafe BC
/1
29. What does the Human Rights Code state about discrimination in
the workplace? What are the protected grounds?
Employers are not allowed to discriminate against employees in the
hiring process or in the workplace. This protects chance of employment,
promotions, being fired and working in different conditions as other employees
doing the same job.
/2
30. What is a layoff and when does it become a termination?
A layoff is when the employer tells the employee he/she has to take an
unpaid leave. After 13 weeks, it becomes termination.
/2
31. Does an employer need to provide a reason to fire you?
No

/1

32. What are you entitled to if you are terminated without notice?
One weeks pay (if youve worked 3+ months), two weeks pay (if youve
worked for a year), three weeks pay (after 3 years, and one weeks pay/year, max.
8)
/3
33. What is a T4?
Paper necessary for income tax
/1
34. What are the disadvantages of working under the table?
Not legally protected
/1

35. What steps should you take if you have a problem at work?
Report to organization, keep records, talk to trustful people, talk to
employer to solve problems
/2
36. What is the purpose of the Employment Standards Self-help Kit?
To help people know their rights
/1