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: Alina Wutke
Block:

1. Glossary: (Pages 2 & 21)

a. Averaging Agreement: Individual agreement between an employer
and employee
b. Collective Agreement: Written agreement between an employer and
trade union
c. Gross Pay: An amount of pay before deductions
d. Double time: A rate of pay equal to double the standard pay
e. Net Pay: The amount of wages employees take home
f. Time and a half: The regular pay in addition to half the regular pay
g. Under the Table: Secretly/ covertly
h. Variance: The state or fact of disagreeing
2. What is the Employment Standards Act?
A law in BC that outlines employees and the responsibilities /1
3. What is the role of the Employment Standards Branch?
The office that enforces the ESA /1
4. What is the phone number and website of the ESB?
1-800-663-3316 www.labour.gov.bc.ca /1
5. List the people who are NOT covered by the ESB.
People getting financial assistance, News paper carriers, baby sitters /1
6. Who are covered by Collective Agreements?
People in Unions /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?
Under 12 with permission from parents and ESB. 12-14 can work restricted
hours. 15 and older can work without restrictions /2
9. Define minimum wage.
The lowest amount an employer can pay /1
10.What is minimum wage in BC?
$10.75
/1
11.Define Minimum Daily pay.
If someone scheduled to work more than 8 hours, they need to be
payed for at least 4 hours. If they go to work requested by their employer
they need to be payed for at least two hours. /2
12.Besides shifts worked, what duties must an employer pay you for.
Meetings/ training /1
13.What should be included on your pay cheque?
Hours worked, wage rate, overtime, hours banked, gross pay,
employers name and address, and deductions. /1
14.What can an employer deduct from your wages?
Employment Insurance plan, Income tax, Canada Pension plan /1
15.Define Special Clothing (p.21). Who pays for the upkeep of this?
A uniform that is identified with a company. The employer must pay
for upkeep /2
16.Define Dress Code. Who pays for the upkeep of this?
An outfit suggested for work. The employee must pay for upkeep /2
17.Describe what work breaks are you entitled to.
30 minutes unpaid, ever 5 hours /1
18.What is a split shift?
When someone works a few hours, takes a break and returns to work
later in the day /1
When must you be paid overtime?
After working 8 hours in the day.

19.When must you be paid double time?

Once youve worked over 12 hours in a day /1
20.How is weekly overtime calculated?
If there is more than 40 hours worked in a week /1
21.Do employers have to pay you if you are sick and cannot work?
No employers dont have to pay if youre sick. /1
22.What vacation time are you entitled to?
Two weeks annually after working with the company for a year and
three after working for five years. /2
23.What is vacation pay?
A percentage of total wages for a year, minimum 4% of gross earnings and
6% after 5 years. /2
24.How many statutory holidays are there in BC
10
/1
25.How can you be eligible for stat holiday pay?
You must be employed 30 days before the holiday and have worked
15 out of the 30 days before the holiday
/3
26.How does the ESA protect you if you take an unpaid leave?
You cant be terminated and must return to the same or similar job /1
27.Name 6 unpaid leaves which are covered by the ESA?
Pregnancy, Family responsibility, compassionate care, jury duty,
bereavement, parental
/1
28.What should you do if you feel your working conditions are unsafe?
Report to employer or work safe BC /1
29.What does the Human Rights Code state about discrimination in the
workplace? What are the protected grounds?
Employers may not discriminate against employees in the workplace or
while hiring. Protected grounds include: sex, race, religion, age, political
beliefs, color, mental ability, etc. /2
30.What is a layoff and when does it become a termination?
When the Employee is told by the employer to take an unpaid leave /2
31.Does an employer need to provide a reason to fire you?
No, because you dont have a legal right to your job /1

32.What are you entitled to if you are terminated without notice?

1 weeks pay if youve been employed for 3 months, 2 weeks pay

after 1 year, 3 weeks pay after 3 years another week for every year worked
up to 8 years
/3
33.What is a T4?
A form you need to do income taxes
/1
34.What are the disadvantages of working under the table?
You are ineligible for E.I benefits and not covered by workers
compensation act
/1
35.What steps should you take if you have a problem at work?
Report incidents, make your own records and keep them, talk with
your employer, if your employer doesnt listen report to EBS /2
36.What is the purpose of the Employment Standards Self-help Kit?
To help employers and employees resolve problems among
themselves
/1