The Employment Standards Act sets the minimum rules for most jobs in Ontario. These rules apply to you whatever your background, as long as you are allowed to work in Canada.
- A general minimum wage set by the province, which rises most years.
- A limit of eight hours a day and forty four hours a week unless you agree in writing.
- Overtime pay after forty four hours in a week.
- Paid public holidays and at least two weeks of paid vacation after one year.
- Job protected leave, including parental leave and sick leave.
- A workplace that is safe, with the right to refuse unsafe work.
Pay, time and leave
Most Ontario workers have rights concerning minimum wage, pay statements, hours, meal breaks, overtime, vacation, public holidays and protected leaves. Some jobs have special rules or exemptions. Check the current rule for your type of work before deciding that a payment or schedule is wrong.
Safety and fair treatment
Workers have rights concerning workplace safety, harassment and discrimination. A worker may have the right to refuse unsafe work by following the required process. Temporary help agencies must also follow provincial rules, including rules about charging workers.
What should I keep
- Your employment contract, schedules and pay stubs.
- Timesheets and your own record of hours worked.
- Emails, messages and notes about workplace problems.
If something is wrong
- 1Keep your pay stubs, contracts, schedules and any messages from your employer.
- 2Write down dates and what happened.
- 3Contact the Ministry of Labour for information about filing an employment standards claim and the records you may need.
- 4Contact a community legal clinic, which helps low income workers free of charge with unpaid wages and unfair dismissal.
Ministry of Labour
Employment standards and workplace safety.
Workers Health and Safety Centre
Training and advice on safety rights.