Happy holidays from all of us at BLANKSLATE Partners! We hope you’re enjoying a much-needed break with your family and friends. As a gift to you, we present some essential knowledge, free of charge.
Simply check off each item on this list to ensure you’re meeting the legal requirements for vacation & paid time off in Canada!
All the best to you and yours!
<3 BLANKSLATE Partners
Vacation & Paid Time Off: Legal Requirements in Canada
Minimum Requirements:
- An employee starts to accrue vacation entitlement after five days of employment.
- Employees are entitled to 10 working days vacation per year in B.C.
- After five years of employment your employees are entitled to 15 working days vacation in B.C.
- An employer can agree to more vacation, but not less. Once agreed upon, this commitment is binding and enforceable.
- An employer in B.C. is required to ensure that all employees take the minimum amount of vacation per year.
Vacation Pay
- Salaried employees are given paid time off with full salary continuation (regular salary continues uninterrupted while they are on vacation).
- Hourly employees accrue vacation pay at 4% on all earnings. After 5 years this increases to 6% of all earnings.
- An employer can choose to pay an hourly employee 4% on all earnings on each paycheque, OR accrue 4% on their behalf and pay it out to the employee upon their request (usually when they take their vacation time).
- Any accrued but unused vacation (salary or hourly) must be paid out when an employee leaves (for any reason).
- An employee may not be paid out vacation in lieu of time off (under the statutory minimums.)
