Overtime and Break Laws in British Columbia (2026)
Employment Standards Act (RSBC 1996, c 113) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
1.5x after 8 hours a day up to 12, 2x after 12 hours a day, and 1.5x after 40 hours a week counting only the first 8 hours worked each day.
Breaks and lunch
An unpaid 30-minute meal break so no one works more than 5 hours in a row. No coffee breaks required.
Overtime in British Columbia
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 2x pay for hours past 12 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 40 in a week.
- Weekly overtime counts only the first 8 hours of each day, so daily overtime hours are not counted again toward 40.
- Employees can ask in writing to bank overtime instead of being paid, banked at the rate it was earned.
- At least 32 consecutive hours free each week; work in that period earns extra pay.
- Special rules for managers, high-technology workers, agricultural workers, commission salespeople, taxi and truck drivers, loggers, silviculture and oil and gas workers.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed with a written averaging agreement over 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks, up to 12 hours a day; 1.5x beyond scheduled hours and 8 in a day or beyond an average of 40 a week, 2x past 12 hours a day.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 40h in a week, 1.5x after 8h in a day, 2x after 12h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) | At 2x |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 | 0 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 80 | 28 | 0 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 | 0 |
Breaks and lunch in British Columbia
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of more than 5 hours.
- Meal break: 2 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of more than 10 hours.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 2 × 30 min, unpaid |
- The break must be paid if the employee has to work or be available during it.
- At least 8 hours off between shifts; work in that gap is added to the day and usually earns overtime.
- At least 32 consecutive hours free each week.
Pay by British Columbia rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick British Columbia: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in British Columbia?
1.5x after 8 hours a day up to 12, 2x after 12 hours a day, and 1.5x after 40 hours a week counting only the first 8 hours worked each day.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in British Columbia?
Allowed with a written averaging agreement over 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks, up to 12 hours a day; 1.5x beyond scheduled hours and 8 in a day or beyond an average of 40 a week, 2x past 12 hours a day.
What breaks are required in British Columbia?
An unpaid 30-minute meal break so no one works more than 5 hours in a row. No coffee breaks required.