Employment Standards Assignment

1. What is the Employment Standards Act?

The Employment Standards act sets the minimum standards that apply in most workplaces in British Columbia. The
Employment Standards of the Branch of the Ministry of Labour administers the Act.
Who is not covered by this act?
The Employment Standards Act does not apply to students who are employed by a board as defined in the School
Act or an authority as defined in the independent School act. Also a student enrolled at a secondary school under
the supervision of a board as defined in the School Act or an authority defined in the Independent School Act in the
work study.
The act applies to all non-union employees who fall under provincial jurisdiction, including temporary foreign
workers.

2. Minimum Wage:
Are there two minimum wages? Explain. What are the new minimum wages going to be?
The Minimum wage in British Columbia follows:

Sept. 15, 2016 - $10.85 per hour

Sept.15, 2016 - $9.60 per hour (Liquor)

This is due to bartenders and servers get tips
The minimum wage in British Columbia will rise by 50 cents to $11.35 an hour in mid-September.
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?

And employee who reports for work must be paid for at least two hours, even if the employee works for less than
two hours. If an employee who is scheduled for eight hours reports for work, he or she must be paid for at least
four hours. If work stops for a reason completely beyond the employers control, the employee must still be paid
for two hours or actual time worked, whichever is greater.
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?

They must at least pay for four hours.

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?

If work stops for a reason completely beyond the employers control, the employee must still be paid for two hours
or actual time worked, whichever is greater.

How many times a month must your boss pay you?

At least twice a month
4. Work Breaks:
 How often does an employer have to give you a 30 minute meal break?
At most every 5 hours
How many coffee breaks does an employer have to give you?
They are not required to provide coffee breaks
What is a split shift?
A working shift comprising two or more separate periods of duty in a day.
5. Paydays and Payroll Records:
You were paid for the months of January on the 3 rd and 18th and for February on the 10th and 14th. Is the employer
allowed to do this? Explain your answer.
No the employer is not allowed to do this because the gap between January 18 th and February 10th is far greater
than 16 days, and a pay period cannot be longer than 16 days.
What must appear on your written or electronic pay statement (pay stub) each pay period?
It must give al details about hours worked, rate(s) of pay, earning s and deductions.
What is vacation pay? How much is it?

An employee is entitled to two weeks' vacation after completion of their first year of employment.
The vacation time is to be taken during the second year of employment, with the vacation pay calculated as 4% of
total wages earned in the first year.

6. Overtime:
You earn $10 per hour. What would be your gross pay (before taxes) if you worked:
10 hours in one day? $105 30 hours in one week? $300
7.5 hours in one day? $70 50 hours in one week? $485
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 must pay, provide and clean the equipment.

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 is responsible for reimbursing employees for cleaning and maintaining it
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 course is responsible for the outfit and must reimburse the employee due to the clothing having the
company logo embedded onto it.
8. Deductions:
What deductions must you pay (or have come off your cheque)?
An employer must make deductions from wages required by the law such as income tax, EI, CPP. Other deductions
may be made if the employee agrees in writing.
What deductions are optional (your choice) to have come off your pay cheque? Provide examples.
- Health Insurance
 - Retirement Plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance Premiums

9. Statutory Holidays:
What are the two (2) conditions that you must meet in order to be paid for a statutory holiday?
Must be employed for at least 30 calendar days and have worked on at least 15 of the 30 days before statuary
holiday
How much do you make per hour if you work a statutory holiday?
Time-and-a-half for the first 12 hours worked and double time after 12 hours

10. Leaving the Job:

Do you have to give your employer advance notice that you are quitting your job?
You are not required to give your employer notice that you are quitting, but it has become customary to give 2
weeks notice.
Why would it be a good idea to let them know?
First off, you dont want it to look like you left on a bad terms so they dont give a bad referral. Second, it would be
a lot easier for the employer and is a means of respect.
What does being laid off mean?
Temporary interruption in work and often pay/ cease to employ
When would you get terminated?
An employee is entitled to notice of termination (or termination pay instead of notice) if he or she
has been continuously employed for at least three months. A person is considered employed not
only while he or she is actively working, but also during any time in which he or she is not working
but the employment relationship still exists (for example, time in which the employee is off sick or
on leave or on lay-off).
What are some reasons that an employer can fire you? Does the employer have to give you notice that you are
being fired?
Unless you were fired Just Cause the employer is required to give you either a written notice that youre going
to be fired.
If you are fired how long does the employer have before s/he must pay all your wages?
the employer must pay the employee all outstanding wages within 48 hours.
What is a Record of Employment (ROE)?
The Record of Employment is an official form you require to apply for employment insurance benefits. It says how long
you worked and how much you earned with an employer.

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? 2 weeks
after 4 years? 3 weeks

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?

If a situation that occurred was on bad terms you may use it as somewhat evidence to support you in whatever
claim you may make, this also applies for good scenarios as well.
 Why do you think it would be a good idea to keep a record of the days and hours you have worked?

In case there was a malfunction or a devious employer even, you could have evidence to support you if you ever
needed it to help in a situation.
13. Explain why it is your responsibility to know your rights as a worker.

It is my responsibility to know my rights as a worker because if I do not know my own rights, then I am
incapable of doing my profession to its full potential. As well as the fact that no one is necessarily
obligated to inform me of all my rights and responsibilities as an employee.