By Lesa 
The question of whether you are fairly paid is generally of the general concern by employees in Canada. There are multitudinous regulations and requirements differing by industry and province, it becomes difficult to prove whether your pay is legal. This article gives information on important features of Canadian law on employment that assist you in assessing your wages. Awareness of your rights gives you strength to take the necessary step in case of any feeling that you are being taken unfairly.
Understanding Minimum Wage and Its Application
The minimum wage is established by each of the provinces and territories of Canada which is required by law to be observed by the best employers in the country. This is the lowest amount of wage that should be considered as a fair wage but there are numerous other jobs that earn more based on their skills, experience and the market demand. As a way to make sure that you comply with this requirement, verify what the current minimum wage is in your jurisdiction. Note that not all workers can enjoy the same minimum wage rates, as students or those serving liquors may have lower ones.
Fair pay is only concerned with minimum wage laws. They ensure that your base salary cannot come down to a minimum amount but it does not protect you on whether you are being paid competitively or fairly with colleagues. In case you earn less than the minimum wage, then this is an obvious infringement of the employment standards and is something which can be pursued through the provincial authorities or even an employment lawyer.
Evaluating Overtime Pay and Hours Worked
Fair pay also involves proper compensation for overtime hours. In the majority of provinces, workers who do more hours than normal work week, which in most cases is more than 40 or 44 hours, will be qualified to receive overtime, at a given higher rate that is usually 1.5 times of the normal salary. It is important to know how your employer may determine your overtime so that you get the right amount of it.
Overtime can be an exception or have different guidelines in some industries or jobs hence, employment contracts and provincial employment standards should be examined. It is possible that working overtime regularly without any corresponding recompense may become a legal reason. You need to check out what is happening with the assistance of employment lawyer Edmonton who can advise you on what should be done.
Considering Equal Pay for Equal Work
The second critical principle in the context of the Canadian employment law is an idea that equal pay should be provided to two employees when they work on the same project or when their type of work is essentially similar to each other, despite gender or other discriminative components. This implies that when you are doing something that is similar to your colleague the pay should also be equivalent. Pay equity legislation has jurisdiction mainly in the federal sphere and the public sector but feeds into the topic of general employment credibility.
The employer is not allowed to offer unequal payments to the employees when they are doing comparable jobs when the disparity is caused by prohibited factors such as sex, race, and age. In case of wage discrimination inkling, you are at liberty to present a complaint to human rights commissions or seek a human rights lawyer to advise you over your redress options.
Understanding Deductions and Benefits
Your paycheck can be deducted with legal pay whether it is taxes, employment insurance, and pension contributions. Nevertheless, employers can not be authorized to deduct an amount of money out of your amount to cut down their rewards. Being conversant with deductions that are legal enables you to check the net pay that you receive and prevents underpayments.
In addition to the wages, take into consideration other benefits such as vacation pay, statutory holidays pay, and bonuses, which might also influence your total compensation. These benefits are secured through employment standards laws and these ought to be included in your consideration of fair pay. In case you suspect there might be some unlawful withholding of benefits by your employer, write to an employment lawyer Edmonton or your local employment standards office.
Reviewing Employment Contracts and Pay Structure
The most important document toward comprehending your paying structure is your employment contract. It must be able to specify your salary or wages, the frequency of the payment, and terms to the commission and bonuses. It is a smart thing to clarify the issuance of pay in case your contract is not transparent or filled with vague terms related to your salary.
As an employer, the employer has to comply with the provisions stated in the contract and he/she has no right to lower your remuneration against your wish. Calling an employment lawyer can also be good in case you get what you expect on a signed contract and what is in reality, or in case the terms of the contract were altered without the latter, before it is too late.
Taking Action if You Suspect Unfair Pay
In case, after reading your wages, working hours, contract and benefits you feel that you are not fairly paid, there are some things you can do. The first thing you need to do is to acquaint yourself with all possible documents i.e. pay stubs, contracts, correspondence with your employer. Clear documentation strengthens your case when raising the issue.
You have options of approaching your employer to negotiate with them and handle the issue amicably. In case this does not work, it is good to talk to an employment attorney in order to know your rights and alternatives as far as the law is concerned. They can assist you in filing complaints with employment standards authorities, through employment lawyers. By acting right now, you will secure your rights on the basis of Canadian law.