Ask an Expert
Work hours for Salaried Employees
Expert: Kyle Robins
John Friesen asked:
I am a project Manager/Plant Manager in Manitoba for a Manufacturing company working on a salary. I usually work more than 40 hours a week, and quite often at home after hours. The company I work for has a habit of deducting time taken off, 1/2 hour early leave, non paid statuatary holidays, Etc. What are the rules regarding Salaried Managerial positions?
Kyle Robins answered:
In Manitoba the standard hours of work are eight a day and 40 a week. It doesn't sound like there's going to be any kind of exemption or exception in your case, as there would be if you were working on a construction area for example. For you, anything over eight hours a day or 40 hours a week is overtime.
The issue of being a salaried employee has absolutely no bearing. Any of the Employment Standards Officers can take a salary and convert it back to an hourly rate from 52 weeks, to 40 hours a week, to eight hours a day. These can all be calibrated back to get an hourly rate, anything more is overtime and is paid at time and a half the regular rate.
If you have a copy of our Employment Standards Guide, there is a section on overtime on Page Five. This Guide is an overview of the major parts of legislation and it spells out how overtime should work.
There is also a section on general holidays that you may find interesting. It's an overview of how are you eligible and who gets paid.The other thing you can do online is look at our fact sheet on general holidays, which you may want to read.
In the end you can also call our general inquiry line, which is open 24 hours a day, but Employment Standards Officers are here 8:30 and 4:30. That number is 204-945-3352. If you're outside of Winnipeg you can reach us toll free by 1-800-821-4307 and you can call and speak directly with an Employment Standards Officer if you have any follow up questions.
Editor's Note: The Employment Standards Guide can be found online at http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/pdf/manual.pdf
About the author
Kyle is the Manager of Client Services with the Labour and Immigration Department of the Manitoba government.