The Short Answer: Maximum Hours and Rest
In Alberta, the maximum hours of work is generally 12 hours per day. Employers must also provide at least 8 hours of rest between shifts.
Regarding your week, an employer can’t make you work indefinitely; you are entitled to at least one day of rest for every 6 days of work, or 4 days of rest for every 24 days worked.
Exhaustion is a Safety Hazard
Working beyond legal limits isn’t just a payroll issue — it’s a safety concern. If you are being forced to work illegal hours under threat of termination, you may have a claim for constructive dismissal.
On This Page:
Daily Maximum Hours of Work in Alberta
In most industries, the maximum hours of work is 12 hours in a single workday. An employer can’t require or even permit an employee to work longer than this limit unless there is an emergency or a specific “averaging agreement” in place.
How Many Hours Between Shifts in Alberta?
Alberta law requires a minimum “rest period” to ensure workers can recover between workdays. You must receive at least 8 hours of rest between the time you finish one shift and start the next. If your employer schedules you for a “double” or a “clopening” (closing late and opening early), they must ensure that 8-hour gap is respected.
How Many Days In a Row Can You Work in Alberta?
Employers can’t make you work every single day without a break. Regarding how many days in a row you can work in Alberta, the Employment Standards Code sets the following limits for consecutive work:
- 1 day of rest for every 6 consecutive days of work.
- 2 days of rest in every 2 consecutive weeks of work.
- 4 days of rest in every 4 consecutive weeks of work (allowing for a maximum of 24 consecutive days worked).
How Many Breaks in a 12-Hour Shift in Alberta?
If you are working a long shift, your break requirements increase. For a 12-hour shift in Alberta, you are entitled to at least two 30-minute breaks. As with all break laws in Alberta, these can be paid or unpaid at the employer’s discretion, unless you are required to remain on-site or on-call during the break.
Contact an Alberta Hours of Work Lawyer
If your employer is forcing you to work dangerous hours, denying you rest between shifts, or refusing to give you days off, Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can help. We protect Alberta workers from exploitative scheduling and ensure your employment rights are upheld.