Noteworthy Changes To Alberta Employment And Labour Standards Legislation

On July 29, 2020, Bill 32: Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act, 2020 (Bill) received royal assent in Alberta. This Bill amends the Alberta Employment Standards Code (ESC) and Labour Relations Code (LRC). The following amendments, which are set to come into effect at the various times noted below, are some of the noteworthy changes to these statutes:

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS CODE

• Termination Pay. Employers can choose from the following longer time periods to provide termination pay: (1) 10 consecutive days after the end of the pay period in which termination occurred; or (2) 31 consecutive days after the last day of the employee's employment.
• Deductions from Pay. Employers may now deduct from the earnings of an employee, without his or her consent when: (1) there has been an overpayment of earnings resulting from a payroll calculation error; and (2) vacation pay was paid to the employee in advance of the employee being entitled to it.