Bc Employment Standards Averaging Agreement

BC Employment Standards Averaging Agreement: Everything You Need to Know

British Columbia Employment Standards Act allows employers to establish an „averaging agreement“ with their employees to determine the work hours of employees over a specific period. The standard workweek in BC is 40 hours. An employer can ask for a variation in the work hours if they have an averaging agreement in place.

What is Averaging Agreement?

An averaging agreement is an agreement between employers and employees that allows the employer to vary the employee`s work hours over a specific period. The agreement can set out the length of the averaging period, which can range from one to 12 weeks. During this period, employees work more or fewer hours than their standard workweek. Employers need to get agreement with their employees before setting up an averaging agreement.

Benefits of Averaging Agreement

Averaging agreement provides employers with flexibility in scheduling their employee`s work hours. In some industries, work demand and scheduling requirements can change suddenly and significantly. Employers can take advantage of an averaging agreement to minimize the need for overtime and provide their employees with a consistent and predictable schedule.

It also benefits employees as they can work longer hours during busy periods and have more time off during slow times. With an averaging agreement, employees can receive a more consistent income and have more reliable work schedules.

Terms of Averaging Agreement

The averaging agreement must be in writing and include specific terms such as the averaging period, maximum hours of work per day or week, and the start and end dates of the agreement. Employers should provide employees with a copy of the agreement, and the agreement must be posted in the workplace.

The agreement must also specify how employees will be paid, including overtime pay and vacation pay. Employers cannot use an averaging agreement to avoid paying overtime rates.

Ending Averaging Agreement

The averaging agreement can be terminated at any time by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee. The agreement will also automatically end if the employee quits or is terminated by the employer. In case the employer wants to change the agreement, they need to get an agreement with the employee before changing the terms.

Conclusion

Averaging agreement is a useful tool for employers to provide flexibility in scheduling their employees` work hours while giving employees a consistent and predictable schedule. Employers need to ensure that the terms of the agreement comply with the BC Employment Standards Act and that they get agreement with their employees before establishing the agreement.

As an employee, it is essential to understand the terms of the averaging agreement and how it may affect their work hours, income, and overtime pay. Employees can refer to the BC Employment Standards Act or seek legal advice if they have any concerns about their averaging agreement.