Governing Legislation and Resources for Employment Law (9:II)

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This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 1, 2023.



A. Employment and Wrongful Dismissal Legislation

1. Federal Legislation

  • Canada Labour Code, RSC 1985, c L-2, sets out minimum employment standards for federal employees including standards governing collective bargaining and occupational health and safety. There are three general parts to the Act: Part I: Industrial Relations, Part II: Occupational Health and Safety, and Part III: Standard Hours, Wages, Vacations and Holidays. Website: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/l-2/

2. Provincial Legislation – Employees

  • Apology Act, SBC 2006, c 19, addresses some circumstances where a claimant is seeking an apology from their former employer. Employers can be cautious about making an apology in case the apology attracts liability. This concern can be addressed by providing an apology in accordance with the Apology Act, which specifically separates an apology from an acknowledgement of liability. Website: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/consol18/consol18/00_06019_01

3. Provincial Legislation – Contractors

B. Resources

1. Books

  • Howard A Levitt. The Law of Dismissal in Canada, (Aurora, Ont: Canada Law Book, 2003). This textbook is used by Employment Standards Branch staff.
  • Malcolm Mackillop. Damage Control: An Employer’s Guide to Just Cause Termination, (Aurora, Ont: Canada Law Book, 1997).
  • Ellen E Mole. The Wrongful Dismissal Handbook, Second Edition (Scarborough: Butterworths, 2005).

2. Other Resources

  • The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC holds an Employment Law conference each year. Papers are published on topics of current interest, and can be found at most law libraries, or online for those with a subscription at: http://online.cle.bc.ca/
  • Carswell hosts an online Wrongful Dismissal Database. The database calculates average notice period awards from precedential cases. Reports can be purchased individually or by subscription. The database is accessible online at: http://www.wrongfuldismissaldatabase.com
  • vLex Canada provides a free Bardal factor calculator. By inputting your employment information, the service will provide you with some caselaw similar to your circumstances and estimate a range of reasonable notice periods. The tool can be found here: Website: http://www.bardalfactors.ca/whats-reasonable

C. Referrals

Employment Standards Branch (Employees in Provincial Jurisdiction)

Online Website
Address Lower Mainland Regional Office
250 – 4600 Jacombs Road
Richmond, B.C. V6V 3B1
Phone (604) 660-4946
Fax: (604) 713-0450


The other Branch in the Lower Mainland is located in Langley.

Employment Standards General Inquiry Line

Online Website
Phone (Prince George): (250) 612-4100
(Rest of B.C.): 1-800-663-3316
Fax: (250) 612-4121


Labour Relations Board

Online Website
Address (Union Enquiries: Provincial Jurisdiction)
Suite 600 Oceanic Plaza
1066 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3X1
Phone (604) 660-1300
Fax: (604) 660-1892


Employment and Social Development Canada, Labour Program

Online Website
Address 11 – 300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6G3
Phone (604) 872-4384
Toll-Free: 1-800-641-4049
Emergency: 1-800-641-4049
Fax: (604) 666-3166


Canada Industrial Relations Board

Online Website
Address (Union Enquiries: Federal Jurisdiction)
Western Region Office
Suite 501, 300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6B4
Phone (604) 666-6002
Toll-free: 1-800-575-9696
Fax: (604) 666-6071


Employment Standards Tribunal of British Columbia

Online Website
E-mail: registrar.est@bcest.bc.ca
Address Suite 650 Oceanic Plaza
1066 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3X1
Phone (604) 775-3512
Information Line: (250) 612-4100
Toll-free: 1-800-663-3316
Fax: (604) 775-3372


B.C. Human Rights Tribunal

Online Website
E-mail: BCHumanRightsTribunal@gov.bc.ca
Address 1170 – 605 Robson Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5J3
Phone (604) 775-2000
TTY: (604) 775-2021
Toll-free (in B.C.): 1-888-440-8844
Fax: (604) 775-2020


Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. (WorkSafeBC - Head Office)

Online Website
Address Main Building
6951 Westminster Highway
Richmond, B.C. V7C 1C6
Phone 604-276-3143


Canadian Human Rights Commission – British Columbia and Yukon

Online Website
Phone Toll-free: 1-888-214-1090


Migrant Workers Centre

Online Website
E-mail: info@wcdwa.ca
Address 302 – 119 West Pender Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1S5
Phone 604-669-4482
Toll-free: 1-888-669-4482
Fax: (604) 669-6456



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