Minimum Wage Changes – Alberta

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On October first in Alberta there will be a new minimum wage.  What does this mean for business owners with employees?

  • The minimum wage rates have been changing yearly on October 1.  the last scheduled wage increase will be October 1, 2018.
  • If you use minimum or low wage workers you need to be aware that their wage for any hours worked October 1st and after must be at least minimum wage.
    • Your bookkeeper will need the hours before the wage change and after the wage change for the payroll this effects
  • If you have supervisors who are contracted at minimum wage + a premium their wage should increase also.
  • If you pay employees slightly more than minimum wage make sure they are getting at least minimum wage after the increase.
  • If your employees are now minimum wage because of the increase but were not before consider how being minimum wage will effect retention and employee satisfaction.
  • Do you need help figuring this out?  Contact us and we can walk you through it.

Minimum wage rates 2016-2018

The following minimum wage rates are set out in the Employment Standards Regulation:

Type of employee October 1, 2016 October 1, 2017 October 1, 2018
Most employees – General minimum wage $12.20/hour $13.60/hour $15/hour
Liquor servers (as of Oct. 1, 2016 the liquor server rate was eliminated) $12.20/hour $13.60/hour $15/hour
Salespersons
(including land agents and certain professionals)
$486/week $542/week $598/week
Domestic employees
(living in their employer’s home)
$2,316/month $2,582/month $2,848/month

Who does this not apply to?

The following employees are exempt from minimum wage standards:

  • real estate brokers
  • securities salespersons
  • insurance salespersons paid entirely by commission
  • students in a work experience program approved by the Alberta government
  • students in an off-campus education program provided under the School Act
  • extras in a film or video production
  • counsellors or instructors at a non-profit educational or recreational camp for children, handicapped individuals, or religious groups
  • farm employees
  • municipal police service members
  • post-secondary academic staff