Industries and jobs with exemptions or special rules
Use this guide to help you understand which parts of your industry or job are not covered by the Employment Standards Act or covered by special rules that change how some parts of the act apply.
Overview
With a few exceptions, most employees and employers in Ontario are covered under the Employment Standards Act (ESA).
There are also some employees who are:
- not covered by certain parts of the act, known as “exemptions”
- covered by special rules that change how certain parts of the act apply
You can read about the special rules and exemptions for jobs in these categories:
- EMS, healthcare and health professionals
- Manufacturing, construction and mining
- Hospitality services and sales
- Transportation
- Agriculture, growing, breeding, keeping and fishing
- Household, landscaping and residential building services
- Government employees and professionals
- Other industries and jobs
The act sets out the rules and minimum standards employers and employees must follow, when it comes to:
- minimum wage and payment of wages
- tips and gratuities
- hours of work, lunch periods and overtime pay
- public holidays and public holiday pay
- vacation time and vacation pay
- leave for pregnancy, parents, family, medical, organ donation, personal emergencies and reservists
- notice of termination/termination pay and
- severance pay
Contact us
For more information about your specific situation, please contact the Employment Standards Information Centre.
Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Updated: May 31, 2022
Published: November 27, 2017