Employee Compensation

By Dessie Barton Most employers know they need to update payroll when the BC minimum wage increases. However, focusing solely on hourly rates can cause organizations to overlook other areas of compliance, employee relations, and operational planning. As of June 1, 2026, British Columbia’s minimum wage increased to $18.25 per hour, continuing the province’s annual […]

By Dessie Barton   Paid sick leave remains a key compliance obligation for British Columbia employers in 2026. While the rules themselves are straightforward, mistakes in eligibility, calculation, and documentation continue to be a common source of Employment Standards Act (ESA) complaints. This article outlines how paid sick leave works in BC today, what employers

By Katie Stargardter   Vacation pay might sound like sunshine and margaritas, but for HR and payroll teams, it’s really about compliance, correct calculations, and clear policies. In British Columbia, minimum vacation pay rules come straight from the Employment Standards Act (ESA), and while many employers go above the minimum, it’s essential to meet these

By Dessie Barton   Statutory holiday pay continues to be one of the most misunderstood and most frequently challenged areas of employment standards compliance in British Columbia. In 2026, the rules themselves haven’t dramatically changed, but the risk of getting them wrong has increased, particularly for employers with variable schedules, hybrid work, or lean staffing

By Dessie Barton British Columbia employers often face a tricky balancing act during holiday periods — between granting time off and honouring overtime obligations — especially when workloads climb, or staffing is lean. Navigating holiday time-off requests while staying compliant with BC’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) rules isn’t just about HR policy; it’s about fairness,

By Kristina Kovacevic   The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. That’s when the armistice was signed in 1918: 11:00 AM on November 11, ending World War I. Over a century later, we still stop at exactly that moment. Not 11:05. Not “around lunch.” Exactly then.  There’s something about precision in

By: Katie Stargardter   Overtime pay in British Columbia continues to be one of the most misunderstood aspects of employment in British Columbia. Even well-intentioned employers can find themselves dealing with the Employment Standards Branch (ESB) because of assumptions, inconsistent practices, or casual interpretations of “flexibility.” Here are the most frequent overtime pay mistakes (and

By: Dessie Barton   Taking time away from work isn’t just a perk; it’s a legal right. In British Columbia, the Employment Standards Act (ESA) sets out specific rules about vacation pay and time off. Whether you’re an employer managing payroll or an employee planning your next getaway, it’s important to understand how vacation pay

By: Megan Jackson   For many organizations in BC, overtime has become the default solution to increased workloads and staffing shortages. While paying time-and-a-half is sometimes unavoidable, relying on overtime too heavily can come at a cost of burnout, disengagement, and higher payroll expenses. Excessive overtime doesn’t just affect budgets. It also impacts employee health,