Workplace Rights

Minimum wage, holiday pay, being laid off or fired, maternity leave, discrimination, starting a union: these are just some of the issues that arise in the workplace. This section deals with laws about employment standards, employment insurance, human rights, temporary foreign workers and unionized workplaces.

Alberta Human Rights Commission - Human Rights, Pregnancy, and Parental Rights and Responsibilities

This publication explains the provisions of the Act as they apply to pregnancy, breastfeeding, maternity and parental leave, adoption, and childcare obligations. It also provides resources for finding more information about maternity leave and parental leave, which includes leave for adoptive parents.

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Alberta Labour Relations Board

The Alberta Labour Relations Board is the independent and impartial tribunal responsible for the day-to-day application and interpretation of Alberta’s labour laws. The Board administers and interprets the Labour Relations Code and other laws focused on unionized workplaces. The Board actively encourages dispute resolution, employs officers for investigations and makes major policy decisions.

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Alberta Worker's Health Centre

 

The Centre provides worker-focused resources about:

  • Health hazards on the job
  • Legislation and legal rights for a healthy and safe workplace
  • Research on health and safety issues and trends affecting workers

They also offer courses that are designed to give workers a better understanding of their Health and Safety rights and responsibilities, and provides tools for making the workplace safer.

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Discrimination and Harassment - Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Canadian Human Rights Act gives each of us an equal opportunity to work and live without being hindered by discriminatory practices. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is responsible to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services by federally regulated organizations. Information is provided about which organizations these are, and about the nature of discrimination and harassment and what can be done.

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Employment Research Guide (Alberta Law Libraries)

Generally, employment refers to work in non-unionized work settings. Employment standards are the minimum standards established by law that define and guarantee rights in the workplace. Each province and territory has its own legislation.This research guide is provided by Alberta Law Libraries.

Related topics include:

  • wrongful dismissal
  • human rights in the workplace
  • privacy
  • workplace health and safety
  • worker’s compensation
  • unemployment insurance
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Employment Standards (Alberta)

Employment Standards staff administer and enforce the Employment Standards Code, which establishes minimum standards of employment for employers and employees in the workplace.This site contains information on the minimum standards of employment for employers and employees, including payment of earnings, minimum wage, hours of work and rest periods, overtime and overtime pay, vacations and vacation pay, general holidays and holiday pay, maternity and parental leave and termination of employment. There is also a section for filing a complaint.

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Human Rights in the Workplace

This webpage from the Alberta Human Rights Commission’s website explains the rights and responsibilities of the Alberta Human Rights Act in the workplace.

Information includes how the Alberta Human Rights Act applies to the workplace, right and responsibilities of employees and employers, rights and responsibilities for trade unions and occupational associations, FAQs and resources related to the topic.

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Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. NWAC works on a variety of issues such as employment, labour and business, health, violence prevention and safety, justice and human rights, environment, early learning childcare and international affairs.

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Temporary Foreign Workers (Alberta)

This division of Alberta Employment and Immigration will help temporary foreign workers to learn about their rights and find solutions for problem situations. Booklets and brochures are available for employers and for workers. (Guide for Employees is available in 13 languages.) A walk-in office and a helpline are offered for assistance.

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Your Rights and Responsibilities at Work

This publication is for workers who want to know more about employment rules in the Alberta workplace. It discusses legislation covering workers, their rights before starting a job, their rights and responsibilities on the job, and leaving the job temporarily or permanently. Information is provided on employment standards, workplace health and safety, human rights and workers’ compensation. Key contacts and resources for Alberta employees are also included. (PDF – 40 pages)

 

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Youth and the Law in Alberta FAQs

These “How old do I have to be?” FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. They provide answers for youth about age-related issues under various topics: family, criminal, medical and health related, legal and financial, activities (such as driving), school and work.

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