Resource library

Do you know what your rights are? Employment Standards Act

This factsheet has information on minimum wages, hours of work, pay for overtime, holidays, and vacation, deductions from pay, personal emergency leave, and termination.

Employment Standards ES Self-Service Tool

The Ministry of Labour provides this Employment Standards Self Service Tool. It is designed to make it easier for employers and employees in Ontario to understand and comply with the Employment Standards Act (ESA). It also includes calculations to determine whether the amount paid to an employee meets the minimum standards of the ESA.

Hours of Work

This section of the Ministry of Labour website has information on daily and weekly limits to hours of work, valid exceptions to limits on hours of work, hours free from work, exceptional circumstances, and eating periods and breaks. 

Industries and Jobs with Exemptions or Special Rules

This guide is designed to explain which parts of an industry or job are not covered by the Employment Standards Act or are covered by special rules that change how some parts of the act apply.

Know Your Rights at Work

This is a basic overview of your rights at work under the Employment Standards Act (ESA). It looks at topics such as signing a contract, minimum wage, hours of work, overtime, and more. It also looks at who is covered under the ESA, and how to protect yourself. This publication reflects the changes that came into effect in 2019.

Ontario Ministry of Labour Videos and Photos

This section of the Ministry of Labour’s website has links to Employment Standards and Health and Safety videos and photos, as well as the Ministry’s Ontario at Work channels on YouTube.

Protecting Employees

This resource explains how the Employment Standards Act protects workers in Ontario. It answers questions such as, 

• My employer says I am not covered under the ESA. Is this true?
• What are my rights?
• I was punished for asking for my rights. What can I do? 

and more.

What You Should Know About the Employment Standards Act

This one-page poster provides a summary of some rights and responsibilities under the Employment Standards Act. It has brief, basic information on hours of work, rest periods, overtime pay, minimum wage, paydays, vacation time and pay, public holidays, leaves of absence, and termination notice and pay.

Workershelp.ca

This website has a toll-free phone number and a “get help” form for free assistance finding information on your employment rights. You can also browse the website to see how workers can ensure just treatment at work.

Your Rights at Work: An Action Guide for Fair Employment

This booklet explains how workers can protect and assert their rights and what to do if their rights are violated. Topics covered include starting a new job, wages, hours of work, leaves and time off, injuries at work, termination, discrimination and harassment, and more.