Employment standards

Introduction

Employment standards set out the rights and obligations of employers and employees in Alberta. This includes the minimum standards that employers must provide to employees. You will find Alberta’s basic employment standards, what to do if you think they are not being followed, and educational materials to help you better understand them. Permits and variances are available to employers if you need an exception to a standard.

I want to:

Make a complaint

Our services

Back of a person in a blue shirt with hands behind their head sitting in a white chair at a desk with a laptop staring out the window of a highrise

Employment standards rules

Laws for minimum wage, overtime, holidays, job-protected leaves, vacations, hours of work, earnings, youth workers and termination.

Row of brown file folders with subject tab with white label: Complaints

Complaints, tips and appeals

File a complaint or make an anonymous tip if your employer doesn’t meet the minimum employment standards.

Brown and gold judge's gavel with gold justice scales and a person in a black suit in the background

Enforcement

Alberta’s employment standards laws are enforced through audits, inspections, penalties, prosecutions and judgment collection.

Person's and holding a fountain pen signing a document signature line with the stamp in red text 'Approved'

Permits and variances

Apply for variances to basic employment standards rules, or for a permit to employ a person under 18 for certain types of work.

Flat lay view of people at a desk covered in various documents, sticky notes, laptops, phones, water glasses and the word 'Resources' in white text and black background imposed over image

Education and resources

Self-assessment tool, instructional videos, publications and other resources.

Contact

Complaints

Make a complaint