Employment

Rights

Employment Rights

Rights are ways to protect employees and are law, which means there are consequences if they are broken. Young people have all the same rights and responsibilities as any other employee in the workplace, which are outlined in Manitoba Employment Standards.

Learn more about your rights (opens in new window) from Employment Standards.

Pay

- As of April 1, 2023, the minimum wage rate is $14.15 per hour and employers must pay at least minimum wage.
- Regular pay or standard hours of work are 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day.
- Overtime means any hours worked above the standard hours are considered overtime and must be paid to the employee at 1.5 times their regular wage for any hours worked more than 8 hours but less than 12. Anytime you work more than 12 hours you are entitled to 2 times the pay.
- Employees must be paid at least twice per month, within 10 working days of the end of a pay period.

Work hours and time off

- Most employees are entitled to one rest day per week. A rest day means having 24 hours off at least once a week from the same employer.
- Employees are entitled to a half-hour unpaid break after 5 hours of work.
- You are not entitled to sick days, but some employers might offer them.
- Employees are entitled to take 3 days of bereavement leave due to the death of a family member. Depending on where you work, bereavement could be paid or unpaid. Employment Standards define “family” broadly, meaning that the person does not need to be biologically related to you to be considered family.
- Employers are not required to pay wages to an employee while on leave.

Quitting

- In the first 30 days of being employed, employees and employers do not need to give any notice of termination.
- Between 30 days to 1 year, a one-week notice of termination is required by employees and employers.
- After 1 year of employment, 2 weeks’ notice of termination is required by employees and the employer.

Losing your job

- If an employer determines there is just cause, they can terminate you without notice. Employee complaints regarding termination can be investigated by Employment Standards.
- A layoff is considered a temporary break in employment and is not the same thing as being terminated as it is considered likely that you will at some point be able to return to work. Employers do not need to give notice if they are laying off an employee. If the layoff lasts longer than 8 weeks in a 16-week period then it turns into a formal layoff and notice is required. If you receive a notice of being laid off, you are likely eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) payments.
- If you quit your job (even without notice), the employer must pay out all wages earned until the last day worked, within 10 business days of their last day.

Employment Advocacy Organizations

Employment Standards is a government organization that makes sure workers’ rights are upheld. They can also tell you about what you and your employer are responsible for, such as a uniform. You can call them if you think something unfair is happening at work.

Contact them at (204) 945-3352.

Safe Work Manitoba is Manitoba’s safety and health certification standard. It helps make workplaces safer and provides incentives to employers that take proactive steps to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. You can call them if you feel unsafe at work.

Contact them at:

204-957-SAFE (7233) in Winnipeg

1-855-957-SAFE (7233) outside Winnipeg

Email information@safeworkmanitoba.ca