Employment Law Resources
Welcome to PortaLaw’s free and open digital resources for workplace-related legal information.
These materials are designed for non-unionized workplaces in BC and cover common issues faced by employees and employers. This content is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, contact one of PortaLaw’s workplace lawyers.
The Everyday Guide to Employment Law
This page is a general resource hub for both employees and employers in British Columbia who want a simple understanding of employment law. It explains common workplace issues across the full lifecycle of a job, from starting employment and contracts, to workplace rights during employment, to what happens when a job ends.
Whether you are an employee or an employer, if you’re looking for an introduction to everyday workplace issues, this is the guide for you.
Legal Updates
This page is for employees and employers in British Columbia who want quick, practical updates on employment and workplace law. It covers new laws, court decisions, and legal changes that can affect pay, leave, contracts, and termination. Each update explains what changed and who it applies to in plain language.
Essential Employment Law Cases
This page is for employees, employers, and business owners in British Columbia who want a deeper understanding of key employment law decisions and why they were made. It breaks down foundational court cases that shape how notice, dismissal, contracts, discrimination, and workplace rights are handled in Canada. These summaries are more detailed than everyday guides and are meant for people doing research or facing complex workplace issues.
PortaClassroom
This page is an on-demand video library designed for employers and business owners in British Columbia. It features short videos, quick answers, and recorded webinars that explain common workplace issues such as contracts, policies, termination, employment standards, and managing employees.
Free Employment Law Clinic
PortaLaw offers a limited number of free summary legal advice appointments through our in-house legal clinic, in partnership with Access Pro Bono.
Once per month, PortaLaw lawyers volunteer time to provide summary legal advice during a dedicated clinic session. These appointments are short consultations designed to help eligible individuals understand their legal issue, options, and next steps.
Browse by Employment Law Topic
Frequently Asked Questions
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The resources on this page provide general legal information only. They are not legal advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice from a lawyer.
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These resources are primarily for employees and employers in non-unionized workplaces. Some information may also be relevant to unionized settings.
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If you are an employee figuring out your legal rights, start with Employee Rights + Practical Guidance.
If you are an employer or manager, and need to understand your obligations, visit Employer Obligations + Practical Guidance.
For termination-related issues, see Dismissal + Severance.
If your problem is about discrimination, including sexual harassment, then see Human Rights + Discrimination.
For information about bullying and harassment, toxic work environments and privacy, see Workplace Safety + Privacy.
Employment Standards are minimum threshold requirements that employers must provide to employees like minimum wage, overtime pay, holiday pay and vacation.
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You should consider speaking with an employment lawyer in BC if:
You are facing termination, a human rights issue, a workplace investigation, or being bullied at work.
You need advice about a new job or employment contract.
You are an independent contractor.
You are an employer and need help with contracts, policies, and managing your workforce from the hiring to the termination stage.
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PortaLaw lawyers do not provide free legal consultations. But, you have a few options:
You can browse our Resources for free and open digital resources for workplace-related legal information.
You may be eligible for free (pro bono) services through OpenPorta, our pro bono legal clinic operating in partnership with Access Pro Bono.
You can call PortaLaw to discuss more options about pro bono or “low” bono legal services in BC.
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If you don’t find the answer to your question here, you should book a meeting with one of our lawyers.
