👨💻 Working in Victoria
Work contracts & benefits
A contract for a new employee who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident does not have an end date for your employment.
Your contract of employment should state your annual salary or your hourly salary.
Example: $55,000/year, or, $18.50/hour
Your contract should state your working hours or weekly hours of work.
Example: Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours/week
Your contract should include in writing any agreements about:
An annual bonus
Stock options
Pension/RRSP contribution plan
Extra health, dental or vision benefits
Childcare benefits
Tuition payments or educational benefits
Pay period
Usually, employers pay you twice a month.
Your employer will either deposit your pay directly into your bank account or pay you by a paper cheque.
In Europe and the UK it is normal to be paid only once a month - hence - a bit of a shock to newcomers to Victoria.
Pensions & RRSP contributions
If you are new to Canada, we have a national pension plan that everyone contributes to. Even if you are here on a visa (you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident), part of your paycheque will go to the Canada Pension Plan. You will be able to collect it at retirement age, even if you leave Canada. 🇺🇸 Americans - this is like Social Security.
For more information see the Canada Pension Plan website: canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp.html
Your work may, or may not offer, a pension or RRSP contributions. When looking for work, carefully consider whether a position that does not offer a pension or RRSP contribution ) is financially feasible for you to accept.
🇺🇸 Americans: RRSPs are equivalent to a 401k up here.
Here is a list of companies in Victoria that offer pensions or RRSP contributions.
Sick days
For sick leave, generally, you will earn around 9 hours (1 day) per month of paid sick leave, if you are a salaried employee. If you need to take more time off sick than you have “earned”, it’s unpaid time off.
Your employer should not require a note from your doctor to prove you were sick. This is normal in some other countries - not here.
Sick leave guidelines from the federal government: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/remuneration-compensation/services-paye-pay-services/paye-information-pay/vie-life/vie-conge-life-leave/maladie-sick-eng.html
I’d like to move my mom here to an assisted living or a nursing home in Victoria
It’s a complicated process, so here’s a guide. How to start, what the process looks like, and how long you have to move your mom in.