Last morning we participated in a workshops on Employment Rights and Behavioural Interviews. The government officer who came to our classroom made a presentation to give us some information, and we were given some booklets about the topic to read. Because of the workshop, I've known minimax wages, parental and pregnancy leaves, our rights when we are fired or laid off. Unfortunately, the presentation had lasted for only almost an hour, and I still have confused with something, like working surrounding. By the way, if the office lady used projector and computer to present, we would get more details.

Three Questions about Workers' Rghts in Toronto

1.What's the maximum number of working hours ?
The maximum number of hours most employees can be required to work in a day is eight hours or the number of hours in an established regular workday, if it is longer than eight hours. The only way the daily maximum can be exceeded is by written agreement.The maximum number of hours most employees can be required to work in a week is 48 hours. The weekly maximum can be exceeded by written agreement and approval of the Director of Employment Standards. However, the ESA provides a limited exception where an application for approval is pending. If, after 30 days after serving an application for excess hours on the Director, the employer has not received an approval or notice of refusal, the employer  may require employees to start working more than 48 hours as long as certain conditions are met including, the employee does not work more than 60 hours in a work week or the number of hours the employee agreed to in writing, whichever is less.    

An agreement between an employee and an employer to work additional daily or weekly hours, or an approval from the Director of Employment Standards for excess weekly hours, does not relieve an employer from the requirement to pay overtime.

2.How much are minimum wages?

Minimum general minimum wage is $10.25;

Minimum student wage which applies to students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or work during a school break or summer holidays is $9.6.

Minimum homeworkers wage is $11.28. Homeworkers are employees who do paid work in their own homes. For example, they may sew clothes for a clothing manufacturer, answer telephone calls for a call centre, or write software for a high-tech company. Note that students of any age (including students under the age of 18 years) who are employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworker's minimum wage.

3.What are the rights of pregnant employees and new parents?

Pregnant employees have the right to take Pregnancy Leave of up to 17 weeks of unpaid time off work. In some cases the leave may be longer. Employers do not have to pay wages to someone who is on pregnancy leave.
New parents have the right to take Parental Leave--unpaid time off work when a baby or child is born or first comes into their care. Birth mothers who took pregnancy leave are entitled to up to 35 weeks' leave. Birth mothers who do not take pregnancy leave and all other new parents are entitled to up to 37 weeks' parental leave.

What I Learnt in Skills for Life

Last week a nice facilitator Kathleen came to our class to teach us some skills for life. She told us it was time to step out of our comfort zone because we came to Canada and began to live in a totally different culture. She tried to let us understand the importance of manners and body language.What impressed me mostly is that all of us could express ourselves so well when Kathleen asked us to show our different feelings with body language. The only thing I regret is that the training is too short,  and I hope we have more time to take part in it.