Scope of application - Canada labour Code, part III - Section 1-802-1-IPG- 101

Guideline

1. Subject

This IPG aims to interpret the scope of section 169.1 under Division I of Part III of the Canada Labour Code (Code) and to clarify the associated expression "break of at least 30 minutes during every period of 5 consecutive hours of work".

2. Point

The following provision has been added to Part III of the Canada Labour Code:

• break - 169.1

This amendment took effect on September 1, 2019. It is necessary to ensure a consistent interpretation and application nationwide of the expression "break of at least 30 minutes during every period of 5 consecutive hours of work". To that end, the following questions will be addressed:

• what is meant by the expression "break of at least 30 minutes during every period of 5 consecutive hours of work"?
• how does that expression apply to different work periods?

3. Interpretation

"Break" means a short period of time during the work period when an employee is released from his obligations to the employer (or is not under the control of the employer) and may freely attend to personal matters in or near his work place.

"Consecutive hours" refers to hours that follow one another without interruption.

The Code provides at least one break every 5 consecutive hours of work, of a minimum duration of 30 minutes. Essentially, the break must be taken before the 5 hours are up (4.5 hours of work and 30-minute break). Thus, the break cannot be split (for example into two 15-minute breaks). 

Every employee is entitled to 30-minute breaks, except those who are excluded from the Code's hours of work provisions, namely employees who are directors or heads, or exercise management functions, or architects, dentists, engineers, lawyers and medical doctors.

Generally, the 30-minute break cannot be postponed or cancelled, even if the employee specifically requests it. However, the Code provides for an exception that enables the employer to postpone an employee's break. That exception only applies when the employee is required to work to deal with a situation that the employer could not have reasonably foreseen and that presents or could reasonably be expected to present an imminent or serious threat under paragraphs 169.1(2)(a), (b) or (c). To ensure that the exception is applicable, the employer must conduct the test in IPG 091 to 094. If the exception is determined not to be applicable, the employer may not request that the employee work during his 30-minute break.

Given that the employee is not under the control of his employer during his 30-minute break, that break is not considered work time. Consequently, the 30-minute break is not paid. However, if the employer requires the employee to remain available during the break, for example if the employer asks the employee to remain at the work place during the break to answer the phone, then the employee must be paid for the break.

Example 1

An armoured truck driver transporting securities would be entitled to his 30-minute break in his first 5 consecutive hours of work. However, for obvious reasons, the employer may request that he remain in the truck while taking his break. In that case, he must be paid.

Example 2

A bank employee, has difficulty getting to work on time in the morning. She asks her employer if she could take her 30-minute break at the start of her work day. The employer reviews the request but denies it because essentially it would require that the employer give her two 30-minute breaks in the day. The employer can refuse because its obligation under the Code is to grant one 30-minute break in a period of 5 consecutive hours of work, in order to avoid giving two 30-minute breaks in the day.

Example 3

An employee works from 8 am to 4 pm, and takes his 30-minute break between 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm. In doing so, the employer ensures that there will be a 30-minute break in every period of 5 consecutive hours of work.

If the employee is required to work 2 hours of overtime at the end of the day, the employer is required to grant him a second 30-minute break.

Example 4

An employee who works from 8 am to 6 pm, is entitled to two 30-minute breaks; one break during every period of 5 consecutive hours of work. Therefore, 9 hours of work and 2 X 30-minute breaks.

Formats substituts

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• mettre à jour vos renseignements personnels ;
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• consulter vos paiements mensuels du RPC ou de votre pension de la Sécurité de la vieillesse (SV) ;
• retarder le versement de votre pension de la SV.

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Service Canada renouvellera automatiquement votre Supplément de revenu garanti, votre Allocation ou votre Allocation au survivant chaque année si vous produisez votre déclaration de revenus avant le 30 avril 2020.

Ainsi, votre prestation ne sera pas suspendue en juillet.

Pour en savoir plus, visitez Pension de la Sécurité de vieillesse.

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N’oubliez pas d’informer Service Canada lorsque :

• vous déménagez ;
• vous quittez le Canada pour plus de 6 mois ;
• vos renseignements bancaires changent ;
• votre état matrimonial change ;
• vous obtenez ou perdez la garde d’un enfant de moins de 18 ans qui a droit aux prestations du Régime de pensions du Canada ;
• un membre de votre famille qui reçoit des prestations décède.

Recevez-vous le Supplément de revenu garanti, l’Allocation ou l’Allocation au survivant

Service Canada renouvellera automatiquement votre Supplément de revenu garanti, votre Allocation ou votre Allocation au survivant chaque année si vous produisez votre déclaration de revenus avant le 30 avril 2019. Ainsi, votre prestation ne sera pas suspendue en juillet. Pour en savoir plus, visitez Pension de la Sécurité de vieillesse.

Obtenez vos feuillets d’impôt en ligne

Vous pouvez obtenir vos relevés d’impôt en ligne en tout temps dans Mon dossier Service Canada.

Dans Mon dossier Service Canada, vous pouvez aussi :

• mettre à jour vos renseignements personnels ;
• consulter votre état de compte du cotisant au Régime de pensions du Canada (RPC) ;
• vous inscrire au dépôt direct ou communiquer vos renseignements sur le dépôt direct à l’Agence du revenu du Canada ;
• consulter vos paiements mensuels du RCP ou de votre pension de la Sécurité de la vieillesse (SV) ;
• retarder le versement de votre pension de la SV.

Consultez Mon dossier Service Canada pour vous inscrire ou mettre vos renseignements à jour.

Les prestations sont imposables

Les prestations de la SV et du RPC sont considérées comme des revenus et sont imposables. Pour obtenir plus d’information sur la déclaration de revenus, consultez votre guide de l’impôt sur le revenu (lignes 113 et 114).

Pour en savoir plus

• Consultez pensions publiques./li>
• Téléphonez au 1-800-277-9915 ou si vous vivez à l’extérieur du Canada, le 1-613-957-1954 (appels à frais virés acceptés).