Provincial Employment Laws
How your province's rules differ from the federal Canada Labour Code.
Most Canadian employees are provincially regulated, not federally regulated. If you work in retail, restaurants, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, education, or most private-sector jobs, your province's employment standards apply, not the CLC. The rights are similar but the details, deadlines, and filing bodies differ. Select your province below.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Topic | Federal (CLC) | Ontario | BC | Alberta | Quebec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overtime threshold | 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/wk | 44 hrs/week | 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/wk | 8 hrs/day or 44 hrs/wk | 40 hrs/week |
| Overtime rate | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x (2x after 12 hrs/day) | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Paid sick days | 3 days (after 3 months) | 3 days (after 2 days) | 5 days (after 90 days) | 0 paid | 2 days (after 3 months) |
| Total sick leave | 10 days | 3 paid + 3 unpaid | 5 paid + 3 unpaid | 16 unpaid only | 2 paid + 24 unpaid |
| Min notice (1-3 yrs service) | 2 weeks | 1-3 weeks (by year) | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Reprisal protection | CLC s.246.1 (reverse onus) | ESA s.74 | ESA s.83 | ESC s.82 | LSA s.122 (presumption) |
| Harassment filing body | Labour Program / CIRB | Ontario MOL / OHRC | WorkSafeBC / BCHRT | Alberta OHS / AHRC | CNESST / CDPDJ |
| Human rights deadline | 1 year (CHRC) | 1 year (HRTO) | 1 year (BCHRT) | 1 year (AHRC) | 2 years (CDPDJ) |
| Unjust dismissal | CLC s.240 (12+ months) | Common law only | Common law only | Common law only | LSA s.124 (2+ yrs) |
Select Your Province
Ontario
Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)
- Overtime: 44 hrs/week threshold
- 3 paid sick days
- No unjust dismissal statute
British Columbia
Employment Standards Act
- Double time after 12 hrs/day
- 5 paid sick days
- 6-month complaint deadline
Alberta
Employment Standards Code
- Zero paid sick days
- Overtime: 44 hrs/week threshold
- No statutory severance
Quebec
Act Respecting Labour Standards (LSA)
- Unjust dismissal after 2 years
- Reprisal presumption
- 45-day complaint deadlines
Manitoba
Employment Standards Code
- Overtime: 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
- No paid sick days
- Strong human rights protections
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Employment Act
- Overtime: 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
- No statutory paid sick days
- Labour Relations Board complaints
Nova Scotia
Labour Standards Code
- Overtime: 48 hrs/week (highest threshold)
- Limited sick leave
- 1-year human rights deadline
New Brunswick
Employment Standards Act
- Overtime: 44 hrs/week (like Ontario)
- 5 unpaid sick days
- NB Human Rights Commission
Newfoundland & Labrador
Labour Standards Act
- Overtime: 40 hrs/week
- 7 unpaid sick days
- Shorter termination notice
Prince Edward Island
Employment Standards Act
- Overtime: 48 hrs/week
- 1 paid + 2 unpaid sick days
- PEI Human Rights Commission
Northwest Territories
Employment Standards Act
- 5 paid sick days (among best in Canada)
- Overtime: 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
- NWT Human Rights Commission
Yukon
Employment Standards Act
- Overtime: 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
- 1 unpaid day/month sick leave
- Yukon Human Rights Commission
Nunavut
Labour Standards Act
- Inherited NWT standards
- Overtime: 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week
- Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
All 10 provinces and 3 territories are covered. While the general principles of employment law are similar across Canada, the specific thresholds, deadlines, and filing bodies vary. Always consult your provincial or territorial Ministry of Labour website or a local employment lawyer for advice specific to your jurisdiction.