December is packed with office parties and long festive lunches. Many of these parties involve the consumption of alcohol. And while we want our employees to enjoy themselves, we also know that over consumption of alcohol can quickly lead to problems. As employers, we are obligated to make sure the workplace is safe; this extends to venues and gatherings occurring offsite and after hours.
According to the Employment Standards Act of BC, non-management employees are entitled to receive 1 ½ times their regular pay after 8 hours a day or after 40 hours a week. They are entitled to double their regular pay after 12 hours a day. (Note: The law permits for averaging agreements but they must be compliant with the legislation.)
Do you have salaried employees or employees who work the same number of hours each day? Employers are often surprised to hear that they have an obligation to keep a daily record of hours, even for people whose hours don’t fluctuate.