Workers

Indigenous people face higher unemployment rates and lower wages than non-Indigenous people. They are more likely to report having experienced unfair treatment, harassment and discrimination at work than non-Indigenous people. For these reasons it is important to know your rights as a worker.

If your employer pays you by the hour, they must give you a paycheque at least every 14 days.

No.

Yes. Employers can use cash, cheque or a direct deposit to your bank account.

Your employer must pay you at least minimum wage. They must also pay you for at least 3 hours anytime they require you to be at work. For example, if they call you in but you only work for an hour they still need to pay you for 3 hours.

Employers cannot pay you less than they pay another worker doing similar work based on your sex or race or any other ground prohibited by human rights laws.
Employers must take deductions off your pay. These deductions are for things like income tax, Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan contributions. 

Employers cannot take any money off your pay for anything not required by law unless you agree to it. For example, your employer cannot take money off your pay because:

• you broke something at work
• a customer left without paying
• someone stole something from the store during your shift

Your employer must give you at least 3 weeks of paid vacation every year after you have worked for them for 1 year. If you work for the same employer for 10 years, they must give you at least 4 weeks of paid vacation a year.

Most workers also get public holidays off with pay. If you work on a public holiday, you get premium pay. You get your regular amount of pay plus 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour worked.

There are other times when your  employer must give you time off but does not need to pay you. This means they cannot fire you for being away for one of these reasons. This includes when you are away because you are sick and when you are on parental leave.

Workers have the right to:

• a safe work environment
• be told about hazards in the workplace 
• refuse unusually dangerous work 
• a harassment-free workplace

Employers can end your employment for no reason. They cannot fire you because of your sex or race or any other grounds prohibited by human rights laws. They also cannot fire you for being away from work for something the employer must give you time off for.

If they do fire you for no reason they must give you notice or pay instead of notice. The amount of notice or pay depends on how long you have worked for the employer:

• less than a year—at least 1 week notice or pay
• more than a year but less than 3 years—at least 2 weeks’ notice or pay
• more than 3 years but less than 5 years—at least 4 weeks’ notice or pay
• more than 5 years but less than 10 years—at least 6 weeks’ notice or pay 
• more than 10 years—at least 8 weeks’ notice or pay

If your employer has a reason for firing you, for example if you stole from them or just have not been showing up for work, they do not need to give you notice or pay instead of notice. If you think that they do not have a reason, you can sue them for wrongful dismissal.

For more information about your rights in the workplace and what you can do if they have been violated see PLEA's information on employment standards on plea.org.

Employment Standards Branch
Can provide information about employment standards such as holiday pay, call-out pay or notice for a layoff and is where you can make a complaint about your employer not following the standards.
Phone: 1.800.667.1783
Email: employmentstandards@gov.sk.ca

Occupational Health and Safety Branch
Deals with questions and complaints about workplace safety including workplace harassment.
Phone: 1.800.567.7233
Email: ohs.general@gov.sk.ca.