Overtime pay · British Columbia
British Columbia overtime pay.
When overtime starts in British Columbia, what it is worth, and what a week of long shifts actually pays.
British Columbia pays overtime at 1½ times after 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, and double time past 12 hours in a day.
Only the first eight hours worked in a day count toward the weekly 40, so a long day is never paid twice. That is why the day-by-day split changes the answer.
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British Columbia overtime rules
- Weekly threshold: overtime starts after 40 hours in a week.
- Daily threshold: overtime also starts after 8 hours in a day.
- Overtime rate: 1.5× the regular rate, rising to 2× after 12 hours in a day.
B.C. counts overtime daily and weekly at the same time, and the rule that stops hours being paid twice is explicit: only the first eight hours worked in a day count towards weekly overtime. So a week of four 12-hour days is 16 hours of daily overtime and no weekly overtime, because only 32 straight-time hours accumulated. Averaging agreements let you work up to 12 hours a day averaging no more than 40 a week over one to four weeks without overtime.
Who is exempt
Managers are excluded from Part 4 (hours of work and overtime) and from Part 5 (statutory holidays) by the Employment Standards Regulation. Separate hours and overtime rules apply to high-technology professionals, farm workers, taxi and truck drivers, loggers, silviculture workers, the oil and gas sector, and commission salespeople.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Government of B.C. — Overtime pay.
Frequently asked questions
When does overtime start in BC?
After 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, at 1½ times your regular rate — and at double time past 12 hours in a single day.
Both tests run at the same time. Daily overtime applies even in a week under 40 hours, and weekly overtime applies even if no day went over eight.
Can BC overtime be counted twice, daily and weekly?
No. The rule is explicit: only the first eight hours worked in a day count towards weekly overtime.
So four 12-hour days is 16 hours of daily overtime and no weekly overtime — only 32 straight-time hours accumulated toward the 40-hour test.
What is a BC averaging agreement?
A written agreement to average scheduled hours over one, two, three or four weeks. Under one you can work up to 12 hours in a day, averaging no more than 40 hours a week, without overtime.
Time and a half is still owed for hours that push the average past 40 a week over the period. The agreement has to be genuine — it is not a way to write overtime out of a schedule that consistently exceeds the average.
Do managers get overtime in BC?
No. Managers are excluded from Part 4 of the Act, which covers hours of work and overtime, and also from Part 5, which covers statutory holidays.
Whether someone is a "manager" is decided by the Regulation’s definition and by what they actually do, not by their job title.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This calculator produces an estimate from the published employment-standards minimums. It is not legal advice and it is not a determination of what you are owed. Overtime rules in British Columbia are set by the B.C. Employment Standards Branch, and a long list of occupations is exempt or subject to a different threshold.
Collective agreements, employment contracts, exemptions for your occupation, averaging agreements and permits can all change the answer. For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.