Am I entitled to overtime pay in BC?
Most employees covered by the BC Employment Standards Act (ESA) are entitled to overtime pay. There are exemptions for certain professions (e.g., some managers, IT professionals in certain roles, and other exempt categories). If you're covered, standard overtime rules are:
- 1.5x your regular wage for hours worked over 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week
- 2x your regular wage for hours worked over 12 hours in a day
Learn more from BC Employment Standards.
Some workplaces have an averaging agreement in place (approved in advance) that changes how overtime is calculated over a set period — check your contract or ask your employer if one applies to you. Overtime must be paid in wages unless you and your employer agree in writing to "time off in lieu" at the appropriate premium rate, taken within a set time frame.
If you believe you're owed overtime and your employer won't pay it, you can file a complaint with the Employment Standards Branch. See “How do I file a complaint with BC Employment Standards?”
LegalHelpBC’s Ask AI includes information from BC Employment Standards. You can use it to get answers to your BC employment law questions.
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