Not being treated fairly? As a worker in British Columbia, you have rights under provincial laws. And if an employer breaks the rules, you can take action and make them face the consequences.
Here are some steps you can take, and some links to organizations and information that will help.
Are you a union member?
As a union member in BC you have rights under your collective agreement. If you are having a problem at work, your union is the best place to get help. They’ll be able to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. And union representatives or shop stewards can work with you to resolve the issue.
Wondering what your collective agreement covers? You can find a copy of all B.C. collective agreements at the Labour Relations Board website.
Help for non-union workers
Even if you aren’t part of a union, there are rules and protections in place to help all workers. There are minimum standards in BC law, and in some cases Canadian law, that protect your rights. Â
(That said, there’s nothing like having the strength of a union behind you! Here’s how to join a union.)
Know your rights
Here are some of the rights you are entitled to as a worker in BC. You can find more information about employment standards in BC at the Government of BC Employment Standards Branch. If your employer doesn't respect these protections, you can make a complaint with the Branch here. (Note that if you work in a federally-regulated workplace, the rules will be different.)
This is the minimum you are entitled to, and some employers may provide more. Unionized workplaces will have additional information about workers’ pay and rights in their collective agreements.
Minimum wage: You should never be paid less than minimum wage for your work. The minimum wage in B.C. as of June 1, 2025 will be $17.85.
Breaks: You must receive a 30-minute unpaid meal break when you work more than five hours in a row.
Minimum hours per day: Your shifts must be at least two hours long. If you report to work and there is no work, you must still be paid for two hours.
Overtime: If you work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, you must be paid time-and-a-half and in some circumstances double-time for the extra hours.
Pregnancy leave: If you give birth, you are entitled to up to 17 weeks of unpaid leave.
Sick leave: You can take up to 5 days of paid sick leave and 3 days of unpaid sick leave in BC.
Domestic or sexual violence leave: If you experience domestic or sexual violence, or a child of yours experiences or is exposed to domestic or sexual violence, you may take up to 5 days of paid leave, 5 days of unpaid leave and up to 15 weeks of additional unpaid leave.
Vacation: After working for one year, you are entitled to 2 weeks of paid vacation. This increases to 3 weeks of paid vacation after 5 years of employment.
Termination: If you are fired after 3 consecutive months of employment, you may be entitled to written notice or compensation. The amount will increase according to the number of years you have worked at the job.
Help for app-based gig workers
More and more workers in BC are doing app-based gig work, such as food delivery or ride-hail driving. But their employers — mostly huge corporations based in Silicon Valley — shut them out of essential employment protections, including fair pay, sick days and severance requirements.
It’s time for government to close the loopholes. Workers deserve flexibility and the same basic rights and protections other workers are entitled to, such as:
- fair pay for all the hours they work,
- health and safety protections and compensation for injuries on the job,
- paid sick days,
- transparency and accountability from gig companies, and
- the right to join a union.
In 2023, the BC government made partial progress for ride-hail and food-delivery workers, including affirming coverage through workers' compensation. But there's still a long way left to go before app-based gig workers have the full protection they deserve.
The BCFED has released a comprehensive look at the ways app-based employers mistreat their workers, and what government can do about it. You can read the full report here.
Health and safety rights
B.C.’s unions have led the fight for safe workplaces and decent compensation for workers who are injured or become ill on the job. As a worker in British Columbia, you have four basic health and safety rights guaranteed by law:
- the right to know about potential hazards, and to the training and information you need to keep yourself and your coworkers safe
- the right to participate in identifying and addressing health and safety concerns
- the right to refuse unsafe work — including work that's dangerous to another worker's health and safety
- the right to protection from retaliation for participating in health and safety activities
Learn more about:
- your health and safety rights on the job, from the BCFED Health and Safety Centre
- everyone's workplace rights and responsibilities, from the Workers' Compensation Board
Resources for all workers
The BCFED Health and Safety Centre provides training for workers and workplace representatives on how to improve and advocate for their safety at work.
The Worker Solidarity Network helps non-unionized and precarious workers understand their rights and file complaints.
The BC Employment Standards Coalition campaigns for stronger employment standards legislation in BC.
The Migrant Workers Centre is a non-profit offering legal education, advice and representation to migrant workers in BC.
The BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner deals with issues of discrimination at work.
The Workers’ Advisers Office provides workers with free advice and assistance about workers' compensation issues.
The Employment Standards Act sets the rules for payment and working conditions in most workplaces in BC.