Working Time Rules: Canada
Canada: standard working hours, overtime, rest, annual leave, and record-keeping rules - a practical overview, not legal advice.
Statutory working time
Under the Canada Labour Code (s.169), federally regulated employees may work a maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with overtime payable thereafter. Most employees are governed by provincial labour standards, which set similar limits but vary by province.
Overtime
Overtime is generally paid at 1.5x after 40, 44, or 48 hours a week, depending on the jurisdiction, and some provinces also add daily overtime. Employment standards are mostly provincial or territorial, with federal rules for federally regulated sectors, so specifics vary.
Rest periods
Daily and weekly rest, breaks, and days off are set by each province or territory, or by the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated employers.
Record-keeping
Employers must keep records of hours worked and wages under the applicable employment-standards legislation.
What to check before you rely on this
- The current statutory limits, reference periods, and any opt-outs.
- Sector or collective-agreement rules that may override the defaults.
- How overtime is authorised, recorded, and compensated.
- What working-time records you must keep and for how long.