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:
Block:

1. Glossary: (Pages 2 & 21)

a. Averaging Agreement: A person legally appointed or empowered to
act on behalf of another
b. Collective Agreement: An agreement between employers and
employees which regulates the terms and conditions of employees
their workplace.
c. Gross Pay:

Your pay before deductions

d. Double time:

twice the amount of your regular wage

e. Net Pay:

your take home pay after deductions

f. Time and a half:

g. Under the Table:

one and a half times your regular wage

employment not reported to the state

h. Variance: When employers, with the agreement of their employees,

ask the Branch to vary or change how parts of the Act apply to them.
2. What is the Employment Standards Act?

A law that outlines the employment rights and responsibilities of employees

/1
3. What is the role of the Employment Standards Branch?
Office that enforces the ESA /1
4. What is the phone number and website of the ESB?
18006633316 www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb /1
5. List the people who are NOT covered by the ESB.
Newspaper carriers, babysitters, secondary students
/1
6. Who are covered by Collective Agreements?
People belonging to unions
/1
7. What Government issued document must you have in order to be hired in
BC?
Social insurance number (CSIN)
/1
8. How old must you be to work in BC?
15+ /2
9. Define minimum wage.
Least amount of money you can be paid
10.What is minimum wage in BC?
$10.45

/1
/1

11.Define Minimum Daily pay.

If you go to work you have to paid two hours, but if you have an eight hour
shift you have to be paid four hours /2
12.Besides shifts worked, what duties must an employer pay you for.
Training, orientation
/1
13.What should be included on your pay cheque?
Employers name, address,hours worked, gross pay, net pay, and wage
rate /1
14.What can an employer deduct from your wages?
Income tax, employment insurance plan /1
15.Define Special Clothing (p.21). Who pays for the upkeep of this?
Clothing that is easily seen with the company logo, employer provides
this
/2
16.Define Dress Code. Who pays for the upkeep of this?

Outfit for the position, employers provide this and upkeep it

/2
17.Describe what work breaks are you entitled to.
5 hours= 30 minutes
/1
18.What is a split shift?
work hours, break, back to work
/1
When must you be paid overtime?
19.When must you be paid double time?
Each hours worked
/1
20.How is weekly overtime calculated?
Over 40 hours, Sunday- saturday

/1

21.Do employers have to pay you if you are sick and cannot work?
The law does not require it, but some employers do /1
22.What vacation time are you entitled to?
1 year= 2 weeks 5 years= 3 weeks
/2
23.What is vacation pay?
1 year= 4% gross earning , 5 years= 8%
/2
24.How many statutory holidays are there in BC
10 holidays
/1
25.How can you be eligible for stat holiday pay?
To be eligible for statutory holiday pay an employee must: Have been employed
for 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday and, Have worked or earned
wages on 15 of the 30 days immediately before the statutory holiday /3
26.How does the ESA protect you if you take an unpaid leave?
You cant be fired same job in regards to salary
/1
27.Name 6 unpaid leaves which are covered by the ESA?
Pregnancy, Family, Responsibilities, Jury Duty, Parental
/1
28.What should you do if you feel your working conditions are unsafe?
Report immediately to your employer
/1
29.What does the Human Rights Code state about discrimination in the
workplace? What are the protected grounds?

Employers cannot discriminate against employees race, colour,

ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion, marital status, family
status, sex, sexual orientation
/2
30.What is a layoff and when does it become a termination?
Tell employee to take an unpaid leave
/2
31.Does an employer need to provide a reason to fire you?
No, have no legal rights
/1
32.What are you entitled to if you are terminated without notice?
1 weeks payments- 3months, 2 week payments-1 year, 3 week
payments- 3 years
/3
33.What is a T4?
A form needed to do income taxes
/1
34.What are the disadvantages of working under the table?
Working illegally, not covered by the workers compensation act
/1
35.What steps should you take if you have a problem at work?
Report incidents
Keep your own records
Talk to employer
/2
36.What is the purpose of the Employment Standards Self-help Kit?
assists employees and employers to resolve problems
/1