Question 1

When does overtime start in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Overtime rules vary by province. In Ontario, overtime begins after 44 hours per week. In British Columbia, overtime starts after 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. In Alberta, overtime kicks in after 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week. Federally regulated employees earn overtime after 40 hours per week.

Question 2

What is the overtime rate in Canada?

Accepted Answer

In most Canadian provinces, overtime is paid at 1.5 times (time and a half) your regular hourly rate. In some provinces, double time (2×) applies after a higher threshold — for example, in BC, double time applies after 12 hours per day. Always check your provinces specific employment standards.

Question 3

How is overtime calculated?

Accepted Answer

Overtime pay = (overtime hours) × (regular hourly rate × overtime multiplier). For example, if you earn $25/hour, work 50 hours in a week, and overtime starts at 44 hours, your overtime pay is 6 hours × $37.50 (1.5 × $25) = $225 on top of your regular 44 hours of pay.

Question 4

Can my employer refuse to pay overtime in Canada?

Accepted Answer

No. If you work beyond the overtime threshold defined by your provinces employment standards legislation, your employer is legally required to pay overtime. Some exceptions exist for managers, certain professionals, and specific industries. If your employer refuses, you can file a complaint with your provincial employment standards office.

Question 5

Is overtime taxed differently in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Overtime income is not taxed at a special rate. However, because overtime increases your total income for the pay period, your employer may withhold tax at a higher rate to account for the apparent increase in annualized income. You may get some of this back as a refund at tax time if your actual annual income is lower than the calculated amount.

Question 6

Who is exempt from overtime in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Exemptions vary by province but commonly include managers and supervisors, licensed professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants), certain agricultural workers, and some IT professionals. In Ontario, the Employment Standards Act lists specific exemptions. Always verify your status under your provinces rules.

Question 7

Can I get time off instead of overtime pay?

Accepted Answer

In several provinces, you and your employer can agree to paid time off instead of overtime pay (called "banking" overtime). The time off must be at least equal to the overtime rate — for example, if you worked 6 hours of overtime at time-and-a-half, you would receive 9 hours of paid time off instead. This agreement must typically be in writing.

Question 8

How does overtime work for salaried employees?

Accepted Answer

Salaried employees are generally still entitled to overtime in Canada unless they fall into a specific exemption category. To calculate the overtime rate for a salaried employee, divide the annual salary by 52 weeks and then by the standard weekly hours to get the hourly equivalent, then multiply by the overtime rate.

Province	OT Threshold	OT Rate	Double Time
Ontario	44 hrs/week	1.5×	—
British Columbia	8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/week	1.5×	2× after 12 hrs/day
Alberta	8 hrs/day, 44 hrs/week	1.5×	—
Quebec	40 hrs/week	1.5×	—
Manitoba	40 hrs/week	1.5×	—
Saskatchewan	8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/week	1.5×	—
Nova Scotia	48 hrs/week	1.5×	—
New Brunswick	44 hrs/week	1.5×	—
Newfoundland	40 hrs/week	1.5×	—
PEI	48 hrs/week	1.5×	—
Federal	40 hrs/week	1.5×	—

Weekly OT Hours	OT Rate	Extra Weekly	Extra Monthly	Extra Annually
2 hours	$37.50	$75	$325	$3,900
5 hours	$37.50	$188	$813	$9,750
10 hours	$37.50	$375	$1,625	$19,500

Overtime Calculator

How this overtime calculator works

Overtime rules by province

How overtime pay is calculated step by step

Overtime and taxes

Overtime strategies for employees

Converting overtime into annual impact