Four-Day Workweek in Canada: Employee Rights Explained

Canada does not have a nationwide four-day workweek law. Employers can offer four-day schedules, but employees aren’t automatically entitled to work fewer days or hours.

A four-day workweek can mean working fewer hours for the same pay, or working longer days to maintain a 40-hour week. The difference matters for overtime, compensation and employee rights.

Here’s what employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia need to know.

On This Page

• Is Canada Introducing a Four-Day Workweek?
• How Does a Four-Day Workweek Work?
• Can Your Employer Change Your Schedule?
• Can Your Employer Reduce Your Pay?
• Overtime Rules by Province
• Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canada Introducing a Four-Day Workweek?

No. Canada has not introduced a law requiring employers to offer a four-day workweek.

Some Canadian employers have adopted shorter workweeks or compressed schedules, but these arrangements aren’t mandatory nationwide.

Employees can request a four-day schedule, but employers aren’t automatically required to approve it. Existing employment contracts, workplace policies and employment standards laws still apply.

How Does a Four-Day Workweek Work?

There are two common types of four-day workweeks:

• Reduced Workweek: Employees work fewer hours, such as four eight-hour days instead of five, sometimes without a reduction in pay.
• Compressed Workweek: Employees work the same total weekly hours over four longer days, such as four 10-hour shifts.

A compressed workweek doesn’t necessarily mean employees earn less or receive an extra day of paid leave. It’s a change to how their existing hours are scheduled.

Can Your Employer Change Your Schedule to Four Days?

An employer may be able to change your work schedule, but a significant change to your employment terms could amount to constructive dismissal.

For example, switching from five eight-hour shifts to four 10-hour shifts may affect childcare, transportation and other obligations.

Whether the change is permitted depends on your employment agreement, the nature of the change and the applicable employment laws.

A major unilateral change may give a non-unionized employee grounds to pursue severance pay through a constructive dismissal claim.

Can Your Employer Reduce Your Pay With a Four-Day Workweek?

A four-day schedule doesn’t automatically give your employer the right to reduce your salary or wages.

If your employer reduces your hours and compensation without your agreement, a significant pay cut could amount to constructive dismissal.

For example, moving an employee from five paid days to four while cutting their salary by 20% could be a substantial change to their employment terms.

Employees facing a significant reduction in pay may be entitled to severance, potentially reaching up to 24 months’ pay, depending on their circumstances.

Four-Day Workweek Overtime Rules in Ontario, Alberta and BC

Working four longer days doesn’t automatically eliminate overtime entitlements. The rules depend on your province, job and any valid scheduling or averaging arrangement.

Ontario

Most employees qualify for overtime after 44 hours in a workweek. Ontario doesn’t normally require daily overtime simply because an employee works more than eight hours.

However, working beyond the daily hours-of-work limit may require a written or electronic agreement. Learn more about overtime in Ontario.

Alberta

Alberta’s standard overtime rules are based on hours worked beyond eight per day or 44 per week, subject to applicable exceptions.

Valid averaging arrangements can allow longer scheduled days without automatically triggering daily overtime. Specific conditions and notice requirements apply.

British Columbia

BC normally requires overtime after eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

A valid written averaging agreement can allow four 10-hour shifts without daily overtime, provided the legal requirements are met.

These provincial rules can differ for certain industries and occupations. A new schedule must still comply with applicable employment standards.

Four-Day Workweek Canada: Frequently Asked Questions

Is a four-day workweek mandatory in Canada?

No. There is no nationwide law requiring Canadian employers to provide four-day workweeks.

Can I ask my employer for a four-day workweek?

Yes. Employees can request a shorter or compressed schedule. Whether the employer must accommodate the request depends on the circumstances, including any applicable human rights obligations.

Do you get paid the same for a four-day workweek?

It depends on the arrangement. Some employers maintain full pay for reduced hours, while others compress the same weekly hours into four days. A significant unilateral pay cut may raise constructive dismissal concerns.

Can an employer make you work four 10-hour days?

Potentially, but the schedule must comply with applicable hours-of-work rules, your employment agreement and any required averaging arrangements.

Does a four-day workweek affect vacation pay?

A four-day schedule doesn’t automatically eliminate vacation entitlements. Vacation time and pay must still comply with the applicable employment standards laws.

Has Your Employer Changed Your Work Hours or Pay?

If your employer has significantly reduced your hours, cut your pay or imposed major changes to your employment terms, you may have legal options.

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP help non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia understand their rights, challenge constructive dismissals and recover severance pay.

Before you sign, always check first.

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