Are you applying for a part-time or a summer job? Already got one? Before you start, you should know about all the benefits you’ll get but also about the obligations. How much is the pay? When can I start to work? Where can I do it? Can I take breaks? Do I have to work on holidays? Here are 8 things you should know before getting started:

1. How old do I have to be to get a job?
2. Can I work wherever I want?
3. How much do I get paid?  What’s the minimum wage?
4. Do I get breaks?
5. Do I have to work on holidays?
6. Do I get vacation pay?
7. Is my workplace safe?
8. How do I avoid getting hurt on my job?

1) How old do I have to be to get a job?

You need to be 14. If you’re under 18 years old, you can’t work during school hours unless the job is part of your school program.

For more information on the minimum ages for certain types of jobs, read the “Minimum age” section at Worksmartontario.

2) Can I work wherever I want?

No. Only in places that are not dangerous like offices, stores, arenas and restaurant serving areas.

• After turning 15 years old, you can work in factories (other than logging operations), restaurant kitchens and warehouses.
• At 16, you can work in construction, surface mines (except for where the minerals are extracted), logging operations and mining plants.
• Jobs like underground mining and window cleaning are only for teens 18 and older.

If you want to know more about dangerous work places, visit the “Dealing With an Unsafe Workplace” section at Youngworker or the “Young Worker Health and Safety Section” at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario.

3) How much do I get paid? What is the minimum wage?

$10.25.

If you are under 18, work no more than 28 hours a week when school is in session or work during a school holiday, you may get a student minimum wage which is $9.60. There are also specific wages for liquor servers, hunting and fishing guides and home-workers. Click here to know more about it. Farm workers also have special pay rules. Find out more.

For answers on other questions like benefits and vacation pay, read the “What should I get paid” section at Worksmartontario.

4) Do I get breaks?

You should get a 30-minute eating break for every five hours that you work in a row. If you and your boss agree, you can take the break in two parts. Those breaks are unpaid unless you and your boss decide something different.

Your employer doesn’t have to give you "coffee" breaks or any other kind of break besides that.

Read more in the “Eating periods/breaks” section at Worksmartontario.

5) Do I have to work on holidays?

You have to work holidays if you’re:

• selling ready-to-eat meals
• renting places to live (i.e., hotels, camps)
• offering, recreation or amusement to people (i.e., museums, art galleries, sports, camps)
• selling things at those kinds of places (i.e. museum gift shops, souvenir shops in sports stadiums).

If you not doing any of those jobs, you may take the following nine public holidays off and still get paid:

• New Year's Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day and December 26 (Boxing Day).

But you can always voluntarily agree to work on those days.

If you want to know more about vacation time, public holidays and other reasons for being away, visit the “Time off” section of Worsmartontario.

6) Do I get vacation pay?

You have the right to get at least two weeks of vacation with pay after each 12 months of being at your job, even part-time. You’re entitled to be paid at least 4 per cent of the gross wages you earn (excluding vacation pay) as vacation pay.

For more information go to the “Vacation time” section in worksmartontario.gov.on.ca.

7) Is my workplace safe?

Your boss has to make sure your workplace is safe. You also have a number of rights and responsibilities including:

• Right to take part in health and safety training and safety programs
• Right to know about possible dangers you may be face at your job
• Right to say no to unsafe work and the responsibility to follow safety rules

A workplace accident could cause an injury or worse. An average of 42 teens are injured, made ill, or killed on the job every day. Think of it. That's almost 2 teens every hour and it's often because of what they didn't know.

If you believe that you’re working in a dangerous place, or if you would like information about your health and safety at work, call the Occupational and Safety Branch of the Ministry of Labour at 1-800-268-8013. You can also check out Prevent-it, a site dedicated to work safety for youth in Ontario.

8) How do I avoid getting hurt on my job?

Get trained to do your job, make sure that someone is watching over you, ask for help and never work with dangerous tools unless you have received proper training.

Find more information on potential hazards, duties, supervision, health and injuries at work in the “My health & Safety at work” section at Worksmartontario.

Laws can be tough to understand. If you want to get a more detailed explanation, check out the Ministry of Labour’s website and its law resources section.

Here are more useful links so you can be aware of all the rules and benefits related to your job:

• Protecting Our Future: Information For Young Workers. A site with information on health, safety and employment rights for new workers.
• WorkSmartOntario.gov.on.ca – Ontario Ministry of labour. Official site of the Ontario Ministry of Labour for young workers and new workers.
• Prevent-it. A page with the information that young workers need to protect their health and safety at work.

 

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