When does overtime start in Ontario?
In Ontario, overtime starts after 44 hours of work in a week, and every overtime hour must be paid at at least 1.5 times your regular rate. There is no daily overtime in Ontario — a 12-hour shift only counts toward your weekly total.
That's different from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which also pay overtime after 8 hours in a day, and from Quebec, where it starts after 40 hours a week.
At the new $17.95 minimum wage, overtime is at least $26.93 an hour.
Ontario overtime pay by hourly wage
| Regular rate | Overtime rate (1.5×) | 50-hour week | 60-hour week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $17.95 | $26.93 | $951.38 | $1,220.68 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $1,060.00 | $1,360.00 |
| $22.00 | $33.00 | $1,166.00 | $1,496.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $1,325.00 | $1,700.00 |
| $28.00 | $42.00 | $1,484.00 | $1,904.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $1,590.00 | $2,040.00 |
| $35.00 | $52.50 | $1,855.00 | $2,380.00 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $2,120.00 | $2,720.00 |
A 50-hour week is 44 regular hours plus 6 overtime hours; a 60-hour week adds 16 overtime hours. All amounts are before tax. Overtime is taxed like regular pay — it can look heavily taxed on a single cheque because payroll treats the bigger cheque as if it were your normal pay.
Do salaried employees get overtime in Ontario?
Yes, unless their job is exempt. Being paid a salary doesn't remove your right to overtime. Your overtime rate is based on your effective hourly rate: salary divided by your regular hours.
Example: a $60,000 salary for 40-hour weeks works out to $28.85 an hour. Overtime after 44 hours is $43.27 an hour. If your contract says your salary covers up to 44 hours, hours 41 to 44 are already paid, and overtime starts at hour 45.
Who is exempt from overtime in Ontario?
- Managers and supervisors — if their work is managerial or supervisory, even if they occasionally do non-managerial tasks.
- Information technology professionals.
- Many regulated professionals — such as lawyers, accountants, engineers, architects, doctors and teachers.
- Some industries have special rules, including farm workers, firefighters, some construction and road-building workers, and seasonal hospitality workers.
Job titles don't decide it — the actual work does. A "manager" who mostly works the cash register is usually entitled to overtime.
Averaging agreements and time off in lieu
Averaging: you and your employer can agree in writing to average your hours over a period of up to four weeks. Overtime is then owed only for hours above an average of 44 a week. For example, 50 hours one week and 38 the next averages 44 — no overtime owed.
Time off in lieu: instead of overtime pay, you can agree in writing to take paid time off at 1.5 hours for every overtime hour. The time off must be taken within three months of the week it was earned (or 12 months if you agree). If it isn't used, your employer must pay out the overtime.
Maximum working hours in Ontario
Most Ontario employees can't be required to work more than 8 hours a day (or their established regular day, if longer) or 48 hours a week, unless they agree in writing. Even with an agreement, you're entitled to 11 consecutive hours off each day and at least 24 hours off each week (or 48 hours every two weeks).
If you think you're owed overtime, start by checking your pay stub. You can file a claim with the Ontario Ministry of Labour for unpaid wages, usually within two years.