Work Laws

Welcome to the Work Laws page of Youth and the Law: Know your rights! Here, we provide information on Alberta's work laws, including break times, holiday pay, maximum working hours for minors, and more. Understanding your rights in the workplace is crucial.

Break Times and Holiday Pay

In Alberta, employees are entitled to a 30-minute break for every 5 hours of work. Additionally, employees are entitled to holiday pay for designated public holidays, know as time and a half, you are entitled to the wages correlating to the time you worked plus an additional half of what you worked. 

EXG: Susan worked 5 hours on Victoria day, she made $75, but since it's a stat holiday she is also entitled to an additional 2.5 hours of pay bringing her total to 112.5 before taxes. 

Overtime and Maximum Working Hours

Employees in Alberta are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked beyond 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week. For minors, there are restrictions on the maximum hours allowed to work in a day or week. A minor can work 2 hours on a school day and up to 8 hours on a non-school day. Additionally a minor cannot work from 9pm to 6am on weekdays. However there can be some expections for those 15-17 working in retail or hospitality without adult supervision.

Work Hours for Minors

Minors in Alberta have restrictions on the times they can work, including limitations on late-night shifts and early morning hours. It is important for youth to be aware of these regulations to ensure their saftey and well being in the work place.