Employment standards & employee rights
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
BC has employment standards and rules about employee rights that apply to your workplace. There are the rules about pay periods, overtime, tips, uniforms, meal breaks, and unpaid leave. Employment standards also cover what’s considered discrimination, not just when hiring. If your employer is breaking an employment standard, you can file a complaint.
Explore the links below to reliable online guides and tools and to organizations in BC. They have been chosen by librarians at Courthouse Libraries BC.
Selected resources
Click on a topic to see a list of resources.
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Employment Standards: Quitting, Getting Fired or Laid Off
Employment Standards Branch (Government of BC)
Information about termination of employment for both employees and employers as it applies under the Employment Standards Act. Includes information about paying final wages, giving written notices, paying compensation, group terminations, just cause, layoffs, and changes to employment conditions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Employment Standards: Getting Paid for Work
Employment Standards Branch (Government of BC)
Information about how wages must be paid under BC law. Includes minimum wage, minimum daily pay, deductions, keeping records, overtime pay, tips and gratuities, and uniforms and special clothing.
Last reviewed March 2024
Getting Paid
People’s Law School
Practical information on your legal rights and options when it comes to getting paid in British Columbia. Topics include earning the minimum wage, hours of work and overtime, working statutory holidays, and what you can do if your employer hasn’t paid you.
Last reviewed March 2024
Your Privacy Rights at Work
People’s Law School
Explains the balance between an employer’s need to know what’s going on in their workplace and a worker’s right not to be snooped on. Information on this page includes what privacy law applies to your employer, and explains your privacy rights during the hiring process, including the fact that your employer must have a privacy policy, and more.
Last reviewed March 2024
Time Off Work
People’s Law School
Practical guidance on the legal aspects of taking time off work. Learn your rights and obligations when taking sick days, taking a vacation, and taking other leaves of absence.
Last reviewed March 2024
Labour Relations — Unfair Labour Practice (for federal workers)
Canada Industrial Relations Board
A guide for how to file a complaint about an unfair labour practice. It goes over the process and potential outcomes. It explains who can file a complaint, when and how to do it, what information is needed, and the steps after the submission, including mediation, hearings, and decisions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Disclosing Your Disability: A Legal Guide for People with Disabilities in BC
Disability Alliance BC
The guide discusses the legal rights and responsibilities around disclosure for people with disabilities in the context of employment. Thank you to the Law Foundation of BC for making this guide possible.
Last reviewed March 2024
Discrimination in the Workplace
People’s Law School
Being treated differently than others based on personal characteristics is called discrimination. The law protects you from discrimination at work. Learn your rights and options if someone discriminates against you.
Last reviewed March 2024
Farm Workers and Rights at Work
People’s Law School
Explains farm workers’ rights under BC’s main employment law. Topics include who is considered a farm worker under the law, and what happens if an employer doesn’t follow the minimum standards. It explains what benefits you're eligible for, and more.
Last reviewed March 2024
Migrant Workers
People’s Law School
This page contains links to what you need to know if you’re preparing to work in BC, including the rights of caregivers and farm workers coming to BC. It explains the steps you need to take to work in BC temporarily, and to extend your work permit. It also includes the steps caregivers can take if they have a problem at work.
Last reviewed March 2024
Employment Standards: Make a Complaint
Government of British Columbia
How to submit a complaint to resolve a problem at work — for example, requesting payment for wages that you’re owed. Includes filing a complaint, investigation, mediation, hearing, decision, and appealing a decision.
Last reviewed March 2024
Making an Employment Standards Complaint
People’s Law School
Explains the steps you need to take to make an employment standards complaint to the BC Employment Standards Branch. It covers what you should know, including the limits on what you can complain about, and that employers can’t fire you for making a complaint. There are links to helpful agencies and where you can get free or low-cost legal help.
Last reviewed June 2024
BC Human Rights Clinic: Do I Have a Complaint?
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)
Information about filing a human rights complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Answers questions such as what is considered discrimination and what is not.
Last reviewed March 2024
Solution Explorer: Small Claims
Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT)
The Solution Explorer is the first step in the online Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) process, with free legal information and self-help tools. You can apply to the CRT for small claims dispute resolution right from the Solution Explorer.
Last reviewed March 2024
Employment Standards
Government of British Columbia
Complete information about BC employment standards — about payment, compensation, and working conditions. Includes a search bar.
Last reviewed March 2024
Guide to the Labour Relations Code of BC
British Columbia Labour Relations Board
Explains what the BC Labour Relations Board does. The topics covered include unfair labour practices, the duty of fair representation, the certification process for unionizing a workplace, collective bargaining, strikes and lockouts, and mediation and dispute procedures.
Last reviewed March 2024
Guide to the Employment Standards Act and Regulation
Government of British Columbia
Searchable online guide to help you understand the law and your rights. The topics covered include hiring, wages, special clothing, records and gratuities, hours of work and overtime, children’s employment, stat holidays and pay, leaves, annual vacation, termination (layoffs), investigations and complaints, enforcements, tribunals, and appeals.
Last reviewed March 2024
Responsibilities under the Code as an Employer
BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
In BC, employers are obligated to ensure a workplace free of discrimination, as mandated by the Human Rights Code. This page explains what discrimination is and what can happen if an employer doesn’t meet their responsibilities.
Last reviewed March 2024