Notifications

Non-urgent government operations are closed December 24 to January 1, reopening January 2. See the list of services available during this time.

Notifications

Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. See how to send and receive government mail during this time

Logging and lumbering – Employment standards exceptions

There’s a special provision to the overtime rule outlined in the Employment Standards Code for employees in logging and lumbering.

Basic rules

  • The overtime rule for logging and lumbering employees is 10 hours per day or 191 hours per month, whichever is greater.
  • Overtime must be paid for hours worked in excess of 10 hours a day or 44 hours a week, whichever is greater, in either the first or last month of employment if fewer than 191 hours is worked in those months.

Logging or lumbering employee

A logging or lumbering employee is a person who works directly in or relating to the following activities and where the work is not within 16km of an urban municipality:

  • cutting of primary timber products
  • sawing of primary timber products into rough lumber
  • planing of rough lumber

Hours of work and pay

The standard overtime rule of hours worked in excess of 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week, whichever is greater, does not apply to logging and lumbering employees.

Exceptions to the minimum standards for regular and overtime hours

Employees must receive overtime:

  • for hours worked in excess of 10 hours a day or 191 hours a month, whichever is greater
  • for hours worked in excess of 10 hours a day or 44 hours a week, whichever is greater, in either the first or last month of employment if fewer than 191 hours is worked in those months

Regular rules for overtime pay rates and banked overtime apply.

NOTE: 8 hours a day and 44 hours a week minimum standards for overtime apply if the work takes place within 16km of an urban municipality.

Additional Employment Standards

In addition to the special provisions outlined above, all other minimum standards for employment apply to employees. Additional information on these rules can be found at:

Make a complaint

If an employee thinks that their employer is not following the rules in the Employment Standards Code, they can make a complaint. Complaints can be made while an employee is still employed and at any time up to 6 months after their last day of employment.

Employment Standards Code

Part 3, Division 2 of the Employment Standards Regulation outlines the provisions for field catering, geophysical exploration, land surveying, logging and lumbering, and road maintenance employees.

Disclaimer: In the event of any discrepancy between this information and Alberta Employment Standards legislation, the legislation is considered correct.

Contact

Connect with Employment Standards or sign up for updates