Legal Resources

Practical information on your legal rights and options when it comes to getting paid in British Columbia. Topics include earning the minimum wage, hours of work and overtime, working statutory holidays, and what you can do if your employer hasn’t paid you.

Explains what the BC Labour Relations Board does. The topics covered include unfair labour practices, the duty of fair representation, the certification process for unionizing a workplace, collective bargaining, strikes and lockouts, and mediation and dispute procedures.

Quitting your job voluntarily affects your legal rights to things like employment insurance benefits and compensation you are owed. Learn your rights if you quit, and what steps you can take to protect yourself. Includes information about employment contracts, giving notice, outstanding wages, constructive dismissal, and more.

This is for workers who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada. It includes information about compensation claims, including what you should do if you’re injured at work, or develop a work-related disease. It explains how you make a claim with WorkSafeBC. It also explains workplace health and safety.

Explains your rights if you’re laid off from work. Topics cover termination, temporary layoffs, and reduction in hours. It gives you the steps you can take if you’re laid off, and provides links to more help.

Explains when being fired is against the law, and whether employment standards law applies to you. It covers being fired when you’ve done nothing wrong, and being fired for “just cause.” It explains you’re entitled to all outstanding wages, and describes the steps you can take if you are fired.

Explains that employers can’t force you to retire because of your age, although your employer can offer you a reward or bonus to retire. It explains there are some jobs with age limits because of the duties or needs of work or because of safety issues or dangers. It also explains pension and insurance benefits.

Information about termination of employment for both employees and employers as it applies under the Employment Standards Act. Includes information about paying final wages, giving written notices, paying compensation, group terminations, just cause, layoffs, and changes to employment conditions.

How to submit a complaint to resolve a problem at work — for example, requesting payment for wages that you’re owed. Includes filing a complaint, investigation, mediation, hearing, decision, and appealing a decision.

This fact sheet explains what happens if your review or appeal is filed late, what steps you need to take to start a late review or appeal, what you should put in your extension of time application, what counts as special circumstances, what counts as injustice, what other factors may be considered, and what happens next.