Employment Standards Act of British Columbia - Part IV: Hours of Work and Overtime

Part IV: Hours of Work and Overtime

Employees are to receive a 30 minute meal break at least once every 5 hours. This break is to be unpaid, unless the employee is required to work or to be available for work during the break.

With regard to minimum daily hours:

• For employees not scheduled to work, or scheduled for less than 8 hours, they are entitled to a minimum 2 hours of pay, whether or not work is performed.
• For employees scheduled to work more than 8 hours, they are entitled to a minimum of 4 hours of pay, whether or not work is performed.
• If work is suspended for reasons beyond the employer's control, the employee is entitled to the greater of 2 hours or the actual time worked.
• There are some exceptions: (i) if the employee is unfit to work, or (ii) if the employee fails to comply with the Workers Compensation Act.

With regard to the maximum hours of work before overtime applies:

• Overtime rates apply where the employer requires or allows the employee to work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week.

An employer must allow an employee at least 32 consecutive hours free from work each week or pay 1.5 times the regular wage rate for the time worked during that 32 hour period. An employee is also entitled to have 8 hours off between shifts unless required to work because of an emergency.