PURSUITS 2011! - Business Education Council of Niagara

Know your Rights
How old do you have to be to get a job
Just because you are a student, doesn’t mean you don’t have rights as
an employee. As you begin to look for a job, remember to know your rights.
Do you know what they are In Canada, children and youth under the age
of 18 may work as long as it does not hurt their health, welfare, or safety
or interfere with attending school.
In Ontario, you must at least 14 years of age to work. The Employment
Standards Act contains the basic rules about working in Ontario. It provides
both employees and employers with the minimum standard for things such
as minimum wage, termination pay, severance pay, giving notice, hours of
work, holidays, etc.
At what age can I start to work
In all workplaces, the minimum age requirements for working in Ontario include:
• 18 years – window cleaning and liquor servers
• 16 years – construction and logging operations
• 15 years – factory operations, including restaurant kitchens, automotive service
garages, produce and meat preparation or ship and receiving areas in grocery stores,
laundries and warehouses
• 14 years – all other workplaces, such as offices, stores, arenas, restaurant serving areas
What are the maximum hours I can work in a day
Normal working limits for most employees in Ontario are 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week, unless an employer
has otherwise established a regular work day longer than the 8 hours.
How much can I expect to be paid
Minimum wage is the lowest wage rate than an employer can pay for an employee. In Ontario, the hourly rates are:
• $10.25 per hour – general hourly rate for students 18 and over (as of March 2010)
• $9.60 per hour – Minimum wage rate for students under 18 working not more than 28 hours per week or less
when in school or students employed during a school break or summer holidays (as of March 31, 2010)
• $8.90 per hour – general hourly rate for liquor servers (must be at least 18 years of age to serve liquor)
(as of March 31, 2010)
When should I be paid
Employers must establish a recurring pay period with a regular pay day for employees. The regular pay day could be bi-weekly,
semi-monthly, monthly or any other specified period chosen by the employer. An employer has to pay all the wages earned in
each pay period (except vacation pay that is accumulating) no later than the employee’s pay day for the period.
What if I work overtime
Most employees must be paid overtime pay after 44 hours of work each week. The overtime rate must be at least 1½ times the
regular rate of pay.
Do I get vacation time and pay
Most employees earn at least 2 weeks of vacation time after every 12 months of employment. Employees are entitled to be paid
at least 4% of their total wages earned as vacation pay.
How long do I get for meals and coffee breaks
An employee cannot work more than 5 hours in a row without getting at least one-half hour (30 minute) meal break. Meal breaks
are unpaid unless your employment contract or collective agreement states that meal breaks will be paid.
It is up to the employer whether to offer “coffee breaks”. If an employer allows coffee breaks or other rest periods and you are required
to remain at the workplace during this time, the coffee break must be paid for. If you are free to leave the workplace during
your coffee break, the employer doesn’t have to pay for that time.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For precise information and detailed explanations, including exceptions to the above standards, please refer to the following
website: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/ For additional information, contact the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s
Employment Standards Information Centre at 416 326 7160 or 1 800 531 5551.
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