Hours of Work and Wage Standards

An employee is entitled to a one-half-hour unpaid meal break every five consecutive hours. This half-hour break cannot be denied without good reason. Sometimes employees do not get to take the full half-hour break at one time; and in those cases, the...

Employers cannot take money from an employee’s pay to cover a cash shortage if the employee does not have full control of the cash, or if the cash cannot be safely secured when the employee needs to leave it unattended. If there is a cash shortage...

What is a minimum wage order? The Minimum Wage Order sets wage rates. As of April 1, 2026, the minimum wage rate is $17.00 per hour. A wage rate is the amount of money an employer pays an employee for each hour of work. The Minimum Wage Order sets...

Standard Work Week The standard work week in Prince Edward Island is 44 hours unless there is an averaging agreement or an Exemption Order issued by the Employment Standards Board. Each hour of work performed by an employee beyond 44 hours in any...

The Employment Standards Act of Prince Edward Island gives employees who qualify eight holidays with pay: New Year's Day Islander Day (3rd Monday in February) Good Friday Canada Day (July 1st) Labour Day National Day for Truth and Reconciliation...

Pay Employees must be paid in Canadian money, by cheque from a bank, or by direct deposit into their bank account. An employer must tell an employee about any pay cut at least one pay period before it takes effect. The Employment Standards Branch may...

An employee’s pay period must not exceed 16 days. If the employment is terminated, an employee must be paid no later than the next regular pay period. Employees must be paid for all work done during a pay period within five working days after that...

Some employers pay employees based on how much they produce instead of by the hour. This is called “piece work”. Employees must still earn at least minimum wage for the hours they worked.

A scheduled work shift must not be less than 3 hours. Each time an employee is required to report to work they must be paid for at least three hours. Employers do not have to pay employees for optional meetings or activities. However, they can choose...

The following are exemptions to the standard work week provisions of the Employment Standards Act approved by the Employment Standards Board, pursuant to section 15 of the Act. 1. (A) Highway Construction / Maintenance The standard work week for...

If an employee began working with a retailer before March 17, 2007, they can refuse to work on any or all Sundays; if an employee began working with a retailer between March 17, 2007 and December 15, 2010, they can refuse to work on any or all...

Tips and gratuities are the property of the employee who earned them, and no employer can ask an employee to share a tip or gratuity with them. Employers cannot charge employees any administrative fees. Employers can have a policy where tips are...

Employees who have worked for the same employer for 5 years or less can take at least 2 weeks of paid vacation after 12 months of continuous work. Employees who have worked for more than 5 years are entitled to at least 3 weeks of paid vacation after...