Overtime and Break Laws in Northwest Territories (2026)
Employment Standards Act (SNWT 2007, c 13) and Employment Standards Regulations · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
1.5x after 8 hours a day and after 40 hours a week, calculated on both a daily and weekly basis.
Breaks and lunch
An unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes after 5 continuous hours of work. No coffee breaks required.
Overtime in Northwest Territories
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 40 in a week.
- Maximum 10 hours a day and 60 a week with at least one day off, unless the employer holds an Extended Hours or Overtime Averaging Order.
- In a week with a statutory holiday, overtime starts after 8 hours a day and 32 regular hours.
- Written agreement can bank time off at 1.5x per overtime hour; the employee can ask for payment instead.
- Managers are exempt from overtime except on statutory holidays.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed only with an Overtime Averaging Order from the Employment Standards Officer, averaged over the scheduled rotation.
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). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 80 | 28 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Northwest Territories
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 5 hours or more.
| 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 | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
- Paid if the employer has the employee work or stay on the premises.
- If a meal break is not possible, the employer must apply for a Meal Break Waiver.
- Days of rest: at least 1 a week, or 2 consecutive per 2 weeks, or 3 consecutive per 3 weeks.
Pay by Northwest Territories rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Northwest Territories: 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 Northwest Territories?
1.5x after 8 hours a day and after 40 hours a week, calculated on both a daily and weekly basis.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Northwest Territories?
Allowed only with an Overtime Averaging Order from the Employment Standards Officer, averaged over the scheduled rotation.
What breaks are required in Northwest Territories?
An unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes after 5 continuous hours of work. No coffee breaks required.