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Working Hours in Toronto

The standard working day in an office is 9:00-17:00 in Canada, but this varies from business to business. There is a daily limit of 8 hours per working day in Ontario. An employee may work longer than 8 hours per day only if there is a written agreement between the employer and the employee. The maximum hours per week that most employees can be required to work in 48 hours. Weekly limits can only be exceeded if there is a written agreement made between the employee and employer.

Wages in Toronto

Minimum wage in Ontario was raised in 2018 from $11.40 per hour to $14.00 per hour. Based on recent legislation passed, minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2019 to $15.00 per hour. 

Work Contracts in Canada

In Canada, signing a written work contract is not mandatory. Verbal contracts are widespread, and any agreement between and employer and employee is contractual regardless if there is a written contract.

It is common to be hired quite easily, but dismissals can also be rapid. In theory, an employment contract should be in writing and the employee should read and understand all conditions before signing. If it is in a language other than your mother tongue, you should allow a trusted advisor (like a lawyer or close friend) that is fluent in that language to inspect it.

A probation period generally applies (from a few days to several months).

There are three main kinds of employment contracts:

• Limited Time Contract - Ends after a set period of time.
• Specific Work Contract - Usually is for specific work and when the work is completed, the contract is finished.
• Indeterminate Contracts - For permanent jobs which can only be terminated according to the terms of the contract regarding notice periods and severance pay.

Termination

An employee has been terminated when an employer brings the contract of employment to an end. This may be due to redundancy (lay-off) or dismissal because of fault of the employee. An employer must give the employee a written notice of termination of employment before terminating his contract of employment or laying him off for a period of more than 6 months. At the end of a contract for a fixed term or if the employee has completed the task for which he had been hired, the employer is not required to give this notice. The time periods for giving the employee the notice vary according to his length of uninterrupted service.

Time Off in Canada

Employees are entitled to two weeks of paid vacation time for each 12-month employment period (the 12-month cycle begins on the date of hire).  Vacation pay is earned by employees as they earn wages. For each hour an employee works, they are entitled to at least 4 percent vacation pay.

Holidays in Canada

• National and Regional holidays in the province of Ontario:
• January 1 – New Year's Day
• Third Monday of February – Family Day
• Good Friday (Friday before Easter)
• Victoria Day
• July 1 - Canada Day
• Civic Holiday
• Labor Day (First Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving (2nd Monday in October)
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 26 – Boxing Day