After 1 year of employment, employees can take up to 2 weeks per year off for vacation. After working for 5 consecutive years for the same employer, employees can take 3 weeks off.

Vacation time must be taken within 12 months of earning it. That means employees earn vacation during their first year of employment and use it during the following year.

Vacation time is taken in periods of one or more weeks. Employees can ask to take just 1 or 2 days off at a time - it's up to an employer whether or not they want to approve this type of request. Employers cannot require employees to take vacation in periods of less than 1 week at a time. Vacation pay is at least 4% of an employee's total wages. Vacation pay increases to 6% after an employee has worked for the same employer for 5 consecutive years.

Vacation pay is calculated on all wages earned from the first day an employee starts employment. It's considered part of an employee's total wages for the year. Vacation pay is not paid to employees who work for 5 calendar days or less.

Vacation pay must be paid at least 7 days before an employee starts their annual vacation. If an employee and employer agree in writing, employees can take vacation pay on every pay cheque.

If employment ends, all outstanding vacation pay must be paid on an employee's final pay cheque - even if they worked less than 1 year.