Viewpoint.

• Date: 01 September 2019
• Author: Merritt, Victoria

Something Old Becomes Something New

Alberta's Employment Standards Code

Employers and employees in Alberta should be aware of changes made to the Employment Standards Code, most of which will take effect this fall.

As expected, the new government has reversed many of the changes that the NDP implemented to employment standards in 2017. However, not all the changes that were made have been reversed. For example, employees still have access to all the new unpaid leaves that were introduced, such as personal and family responsibility leave.

This article reviews the major areas of change--most of which represent a return to pre-NDP law--including general holiday pay eligibility, overtime pay, and a lower minimum wage for students.

The government made these changes through Bill 2: An Act to Make Alberta Open for Business, which became law in Alberta in July 2019, along with some corresponding regulatory changes.

General Holiday Pay: Stricter Eligibility Requirements

Starting September 1, 2019, the restrictions around holiday pay will be tightened.

Employees will once again only earn holiday pay if they have worked...