Paying Wages

Deductions from Wages

Employers are responsible for paying employees properly for all hours worked. 

Employees and employers are sometimes unsure what can be deducted or held by the employer from those wages.  The general rule is employers can only deduct money required by a law, or money the employee agrees to pay for something that is a direct benefit to them.


Hours of Work and Breaks

Standard hours of work are 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day. In most cases, employees who work more than the standard hours they must be paid at the overtime wage rate. Employees are also entitled to an unpaid 30 minute break after 5 hours of consecutive work.


Independent Contractors

Independent contractors are not covered under Manitoba’s employment standards.  The laws for minimum wage, vacations, general holidays, and termination of employment, among other standards, do not apply to independent contractors.  But some employees are mistakenly classified as independent contractors.   

It is important for employees to be correctly classified so that they receive proper wages and other entitlements provided under The Employment Standards Code.  Employment Standards enforces payment of wages where an employee has been incorrectly classified as an independent contractor. 


Paying Wages and Keeping Records

Employers and employees need to keep accurate records of the hours worked and the amount paid for those hours. Employers must pay employees for all hours they work and explain how the pay was calculated. Employment Standards requires employers to keep pay records for three years.  


Volunteers

Some volunteers may receive pay or an honorarium for their work, but they are excluded from minimum standards because they are not employees as defined by The Employment Standards Code. 


Wage for reporting for work

Sometimes employees are scheduled to work a shift and then the shift is cancelled or shortened. In other situations, employees are called in to work when they were not scheduled. Employees who report for work are paid for at least three hours work, or their full shift, whichever is less.


What is Minimum Wage?

The minimum wage is the lowest amount, per hour, employees must be paid by their employers for work in Manitoba.