School's Corner

The Employment Standards Act (ESA) sets out the minimum standards that apply to most workplaces in B.C. Some jobs are covered by federal law – the Canada Labour Code. An example would be airlines and truckers hauling across provincial borders.

• There are other exceptions to being covered by the ESA. For example, babysitters and newspaper carriers who work less than 15 hour per week are not covered under the B.C. Employment Standards Act.
• The ESA applies equally to all employees whether they work full or part-time. Part-time employees are entitled to vacation pay and earned vacation time.
• An employer can set out standards of clothing and appearance appropriate to the business, for example a company may have a dress code or ask the employee to wear a uniform. The employer can require employees to remove jewellery, cover tattoos and wear appropriate clothing. The requirements can be for a variety of reasons, including safety concerns.
• Employees are strongly encouraged to keep a record of all hours worked. When an employee receives his or her paycheque, they can use this record to verify that they have been paid properly.