Overtime Hours and Overtime Pay

The Saskatchewan Employment Act sets the rules for overtime pay in the province. It states employees must be paid for each hour or part of an hour worked. This includes overtime, as employers are obligated to pay overtime when their staff works more than a set amount of hours per day or week.

What are Saskatchewan’s hours of work rules?

A regular work week in Saskatchewan has 40 hours. The employer may choose to schedule the 40 hours over five 8-hour days or four 10-hour days.

For 8 hours per day schedules, workers earn overtime after working more than 8 hours in 24 hours. Those workers scheduled for four 10-hour days earn overtime after working more than 10 hours in 24 hours.

Calculating Overtime Pay and Entitlements

Overtime Hours

To calculate the hourly rate for overtime where wages are paid daily, just divide the daily wages earned in non-overtime hours by the number of non-overtime hours worked in a day (normally eight or less). Once the hourly rate is determined, multiply that amount by the number of overtime hours x 1.5.

To calculate the hourly rate for overtime where wages are paid weekly, divide the non-overtime wages earned in the week by the non-overtime hours worked in a week (normally 40 hours or less). Once the hourly rate is determined, multiply that amount by the number of overtime hours x 1.5.

Employee Entitlement

Overtime pay is at least 1.5 times your employee’s regular wage rate for all overtime hours worked. However, some exceptions exist for certain industries and professions. Ask Employer Line if you’re unsure about paying your employees or calculating overtime pay.

Overtime Bank Agreements

Upon agreement between the employer and employee, instead of paying our overtime hours, employees can bank this time and take it off with pay during regular hours at a mutually agreed future date. For every hour worked by an employee, 1.5 hours must be banked. If time banked time is paid out it must be paid at the worker’s current regular hourly wage.

All overtime bank agreements must be in writing and be retained by the employer. If you need help writing an overtime bank agreement for your business, call Employer Line’s free advice line today and speak to an expert.

Do you meet the minimum standards requirement?

As an employer, it is your responsibility to comply with the Saskatchewan Employment Act. If you have any questions about overtime hours or pay, give us a call. Our free dedicated employer advice line is here to support you at 1 (306) 952-5891