The OFL's Workers Under 30 Committee

Know Your Rights

The OFL Workers Under 30 Committee has an ongoing campaign called Know Your Rights. Young workers need to know their workplace rights:

The right to minimum standards of employment for wages, benefits and vacations.
The right to a healthy and safe workplace free from harassment and discrimination.
The right to join a union.

Did you know that:

the general minimum wage is $8.00;
students under 18 years old who work under 28 hours per week or during a school holiday make $7.50 per hour;
liquor servers receive $6.95 per hour;
hunting and fishing guides receive $40.00 for working less than five consecutive hours in a day and $80.00 for five or more hours in a day whether or not the hours are consecutive;
homeworkers (defined as people doing paid work in their home for an employer) receive 110 percent of the general minimum wage - $8.80 per hour;
retail sector employees have the right to refuse to work on Sundays;
overtime must be paid for working more than 44 hours in a week;
you are entitled to a one half-hour unpaid meal break for every five hours worked;
you are entitled to a two-week annual vacation;
you have the right to join a union and support and participate in union activities;
your employer is responsible for the health and safety of your workplace;
you have the right to refuse unsafe work;
your employer must make every reasonable effort to accommodate any disability.

Choose from the categories in the right column… and get to Know Your Rights!

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