Overtime and Break Laws in Ontario (2026)
Employment Standards Act, 2000 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
1.5x after 44 hours in a work week. No daily overtime unless a contract says so.
Breaks and lunch
An unpaid 30-minute eating period so no one works more than 5 hours in a row.
Overtime in Ontario
- 1.5x pay for hours past 44 in a week.
- Time off in lieu by written or electronic agreement at 1.5 hours per overtime hour, taken within 3 months (12 by agreement).
- Managers and supervisors are excluded; some industries have other thresholds or exemptions.
- Employees cannot waive overtime rights.
- Work past 8 hours a day (or the regular day) or 48 a week needs a written or electronic agreement.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed with a written or electronic averaging agreement over 2 to 4 weeks; overtime only if the average exceeds 44 a week. Non-union agreements expire within 2 years.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 44h in a week). 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) | 88 | 12 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 88 | 20 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 74 | 6 |
Breaks and lunch in Ontario
- 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 |
- Can be split into two periods totaling at least 30 minutes by agreement.
- Paid only if the contract requires it.
- 11 consecutive hours off each day, and 8 hours between shifts unless the two shifts total 13 hours or less.
- 24 consecutive hours off each week, or 48 in every two weeks.
Pay by Ontario rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Ontario: 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 Ontario?
1.5x after 44 hours in a work week. No daily overtime unless a contract says so.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Ontario?
Allowed with a written or electronic averaging agreement over 2 to 4 weeks; overtime only if the average exceeds 44 a week. Non-union agreements expire within 2 years.
What breaks are required in Ontario?
An unpaid 30-minute eating period so no one works more than 5 hours in a row.