Part-Time Employee Rights in Ontario: What You Need to Know

Part-time work is common across Ontario — in retail, hospitality, banking, health care, and corporate environments. But many workers still ask: What are part-time employee rights in Ontario? How many hours is part-time? And what protections do part-time employees actually have?

This guide breaks down your rights, your minimum protections, and what “part-time hours” really mean under Ontario law.

What Are Part-Time Hours in Ontario?

Here’s the most important point:
Ontario law does not define a specific number of hours as “part-time.”

That means:

• There is no minimum hours requirement for part-time work.
• Employers choose how many hours part-time employees receive.
• Most part-time staff work fewer than 30 hours per week, but this number varies by industry.

Part-time hours in Ontario generally mean any schedule below a full-time workload, which is often treated as 30–40 hours per week.

Employees often ask:

• What is considered part-time hours in Ontario?
• How many hours is part-time?
• How long are part-time shifts?

The answer is the same: there’s no legal definition. Employers set the schedule, but they still must follow Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA).

Part-Time vs. Full-Time in Ontario

While Ontario doesn’t legally define full-time work either, many workplaces treat:

• Full-time → 37.5 to 40 hours per week
• Part-time → Below full-time hours

Your employer can label your role as part-time, but that label can’t reduce your legal rights.

Do Part-Time Employees Have the Same Rights as Full-Time Employees?

Yes — part-time employees have almost all the same rights and protections as full-time employees in Ontario.

You are entitled to:

1. Minimum Wage

Part-time workers must receive at least the Ontario minimum wage, with no exceptions.

2. Vacation Pay

In terms of vacation pay in Ontario, You are owed:

• 4% vacation pay if employed for less than five years
• 6% vacation pay after five years

Vacation time applies as well, even if you work irregular hours.

3. Public Holiday Pay

Part-time employees qualify for public holiday pay — even if they don’t work full-time hours.
(Your pay is calculated based on the hours worked in the weeks before the holiday.)

4. Overtime Pay

Overtime applies when you work more than 44 hours in a week — even if you’re “part-time.”

5. Breaks and Rest Periods

Under the ESA, part-time workers have the right to:

• A 30-minute unpaid meal break after five hours
• Minimum periods of rest between shifts

6. Equal Pay for Equal Work

If you do substantially the same work as a full-time employee, your employer must pay you the same rate, unless differences are based on seniority, merit, or quantity/quality of work.

7. Protection from Illegal Schedule Changes

Your employer can change your schedule, but they can’t:

• Cut your hours to punish you
• Change your shift in a way that fundamentally alters your job
• Force major changes without your consent

Minimum Hours for Part-Time Work in Ontario

A common search question is:
“What is the minimum hours for part-time in Ontario?”

Answer: There is no legal minimum.

An employer can schedule:

• A 3-hour shift
• A 5-hour shift
• A 12-hour week
• A 25-hour week

…but you still must be paid for at least three hours if you’re called in and work fewer than that.

How Many Hours Does a Part-Time Worker Usually Work?

Most part-time employees in Ontario work:

• 10–30 hours per week, or
• Several shorter shifts spread across the week

This varies widely. What matters is whether your employer changes your established schedule without your consent or treats you unfairly because you’re part-time.

Can Employers Reduce a Part-Time Employee’s Hours?

Yes — but not for illegal reasons.

Employers can’t cut your hours:

• As punishment
• Because you asked about your rights
• In retaliation for taking sick leave or pregnancy leave
• For discriminatory reasons

Part-Time Employees and Termination or Layoffs

Part-time employees in Ontario have the same rights as full-time employees when it comes to:

• Termination pay
• Severance pay
• Wrongful dismissal claims

Your hours do not determine your entitlement — your length of service does.

When Part-Time Employees Should Get Legal Advice

Speak to an employment lawyer if:

• Your employer drastically cuts your hours
• Your schedule changes in a way that affects childcare or commuting
• You’re pushed to accept a “full-time” or “different” role you didn’t agree to
• Your hours are reduced after announcing a medical condition or pregnancy
• You’re terminated without cause and told you’re only owed a small amount because you were “just part-time”

Many part-time employees are owed much more severance than they’re told.

Talk to an Employment Lawyer About Part-Time Employee Rights in Ontario

If you’re a part-time employee in Ontario and your hours were reduced, your job changed, or you were fired, you have strong legal protections. Our team of Ontario employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has helped tens of thousands of non-unionized employees secure fair compensation and understand their rights.