It’s been more than a hundred years since we had our first Labour Day Parade, which was done primarily in support of the Toronto Typographical Union’s strike for a 58-hour work-week. In those times, being a member of a union in Canada is considered a crime and you could land in prison. The 24 leaders of the Typographical Union were arrested for going on to strike to reduce the workweek to 58 hours. And since then, workplace laws have greatly improved, that now we have a 40 to 48 hour workweek.
Some things you should know about your employee rights:
- Know about employment standards. Minimum wage, hours of work, public holidays, and other standards are stated in the employment standards. Many of the workers in Canada must comply with provincial or territorial employment standards, and each has its own legislation. Other Canadian employees work in industries that fall under federal regulations.
- Know about the acts that cover Employment Equity and Discrimination. Employment Equity Act (EEA) are meant to protect the rights of four designated groups: women, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, and visible minorities. On the other hand, Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) prohibits discriminatory practices based on a set of prohibited grounds such as race, age, gender, and other grounds.
Find out more about your rights as an employee. There are several online resources where you can get information. In Basic Workplace Standards by Province, you can find comparisons such as minimum wages and hours of work and overtime. If you want advice, talk to an expert to help you out. In this day, it pays to know what your rights are and that you can do something and ask for help and advice if you feel that they’re being violated. Being informed of these rights and obligations can protect you from incorrect employment practices.
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