Alberta Employment Standards on the Farm: How New Changes Impact Farmers and Ranchers

​​​For Alberta's farmers and ranchers, there are no off hours. Every season brings its challenges and some seasons require extra hands to get all the work done. It's a way of life that's never going to change, but changes to Alberta's Employment Standards mean farmers and ranchers are going to have to take steps to ensure they're following the law when it comes to waged, non-family employees.

In June 2017, the province of Alberta passed the Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act, which includes specific changes to the Employment Standards Code to apply it to ranches and farms. As of January 1, 2018, the new rules apply to farms and ranches with waged, non-family workers. This includes year-round and seasonal employees.

The Employment Standards do not apply if everyone who is paid a wage to work on your farm or ranch is an owner or a family member of an owner. Nor do they apply if all non-family members are just helping out or participating in activities like 4H.

MNP has developed a detailed fact sheet on how the new changes will impact farmers and rancher. ​

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