🇨🇦 Canada · British Columbia · Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996)
British Columbia Employment Standards 2025
Statutory minimums for workers in British Columbia under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996): minimum wage, notice periods, vacation entitlement. These are floors — your employment contract may provide more generous terms.
Minimum wage
$17.40/hr
Effective June 2024; liquor servers: same as general minimum wage
Max statutory notice
8 weeks
At 8+ years
Statutory severance
No separate entitlement
Notice pay only
Statutory notice periods
If your employer terminates your employment (without cause), you are entitled to notice — or pay in lieu — under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996). The statutory minimums by length of service are:
| Length of service | Notice required |
|---|---|
| 3 months | 1 week |
| 1 year | 2 weeks |
| 3 years | 3 weeks |
| 4 years | 4 weeks |
| 5 years | 5 weeks |
| 6 years | 6 weeks |
| 7 years | 7 weeks |
| 8+ years | 8 weeks |
Statutory minimums only. Employment contracts and common law reasonable notice may provide significantly more. Wrongful dismissal claims can result in much longer notice periods through the courts.
Severance pay
British Columbia does not have statutory severance pay separate from notice under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996). Your entitlement on termination without cause is the notice period above (or pay in lieu). However, common law reasonable notice — determined by courts based on age, seniority, character of employment, and availability of similar work — can be substantially longer than the statutory minimum.
Vacation entitlement
Under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996), employees are entitled to: 2 weeks (4%) for first 5 years; 3 weeks (6%) after 5 years.
Vacation pay accrues as a percentage of gross wages earned during the vacation entitlement year. Your employer must either provide the vacation as paid time off or, if agreed in writing, pay out the accrued vacation pay.
Minimum wage
The general minimum wage in British Columbia is $17.40/hr. Effective June 2024; liquor servers: same as general minimum wage.
The federal minimum wage ($17.30/hr as of April 2024) applies only to federally regulated workers — those in banking, airlines, railways, and telecommunications. If you work for a provincially regulated employer in British Columbia, the British Columbia rate applies.
Notice period calculator
Calculate your statutory notice entitlement based on years of service. Federal minimums applied — adjust for British Columbia rules above.
Calculate →Take-home pay calculator
Work out your net pay after federal and provincial income tax, CPP, and EI deductions.
Calculate →Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in British Columbia in 2025?
The general minimum wage in British Columbia is $17.40/hr. Effective June 2024; liquor servers: same as general minimum wage
How much notice am I entitled to if I'm let go in British Columbia?
Under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996), the statutory notice entitlement is: 3 months → 1 week; 1 year → 2 weeks; 3 years → 3 weeks; 4 years → 4 weeks; 5 years → 5 weeks; 6 years → 6 weeks; 7 years → 7 weeks; 8+ years → 8 weeks. Your employment contract may provide more, but cannot provide less.
Does British Columbia have statutory severance pay separate from notice?
No. British Columbia does not have statutory severance pay separate from notice under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996). Employers may provide enhanced severance contractually, and courts may award common law reasonable notice on top of the statutory minimum.
How much vacation am I entitled to in British Columbia?
Under the Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996): 2 weeks (4%) for first 5 years; 3 weeks (6%) after 5 years. These are statutory minimums; your employment contract may provide more generous vacation.
Can my employer pay me in lieu of notice instead of working my notice period?
Yes. In British Columbia, as in all Canadian provinces, an employer may provide pay in lieu of notice (PILON) instead of requiring you to work through the notice period. The payment must equal what you would have earned during the notice period, including regular wages and the value of other benefits.