Overtime and Break Laws in Quebec (2026)
Act respecting labour standards (CQLR c N-1.1) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
1.5x (a 50% premium) after 40 hours in a week. No daily overtime.
Breaks and lunch
An unpaid 30-minute meal break after 5 consecutive hours of work.
Overtime in Quebec
- 1.5x pay for hours past 40 in a week.
- Some groups have a longer standard week: security guards at a security firm 44, logging and sawmills 47, remote areas and James Bay 55, other security guards 60.
- An employee can ask for time off instead: 1.5 hours off per overtime hour.
- The 40-hour week is not a limit after which an employee may refuse work; refusal rights are separate.
- Farm workers are paid at a single rate for farm work.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed (staggered hours): with CNESST authorization over up to 8 weeks (majority staff consent, apply 2 months ahead), or by individual written agreement over up to 4 weeks with no week more than 10 hours over the standard. Overtime at 1.5x on any average above 40.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 40h 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) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 80 | 28 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Quebec
- 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 |
- The meal break must be paid if the worker has to stay at their workstation.
- Breaks are not required, but any break the employer grants must be paid and counted as time worked.
- At least 32 consecutive hours of rest each week.
Pay by Quebec rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Quebec: 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 Quebec?
1.5x (a 50% premium) after 40 hours in a week. No daily overtime.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Quebec?
Allowed (staggered hours): with CNESST authorization over up to 8 weeks (majority staff consent, apply 2 months ahead), or by individual written agreement over up to 4 weeks with no week more than 10 hours over the standard. Overtime at 1.5x on any average above 40.
What breaks are required in Quebec?
An unpaid 30-minute meal break after 5 consecutive hours of work.