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Employer Won't Pay Me

You have legal rights to fair payment for your work. Wage theft is illegal, and there are resources to help you recover what you're owed. Follow these steps systematically.

⏱ī¸Time: 1-2 hours
WorkRightsLegal

✓What to Do Now

1

Document everything

Gather pay stubs, time records, employment contract, and all communication about pay.

2

Review your employment agreement

Check what payment terms were agreed upon (hourly rate, salary, commission structure).

3

Calculate what you're owed

Make a detailed list of hours worked and amounts unpaid or underpaid.

4

Contact your employer in writing

Send a formal request for payment with a deadline (give 7-10 days).

5

File a wage claim

If no response, file with Employment Standards BC (ESB) - the provincial agency that handles wage complaints.

6

Consult with legal aid

BC offers free legal resources: Legal Aid BC, Access Pro Bono, or your school's legal clinic if available.

📞Who to Contact

Employment Standards BC (ESB)

📱 Phone: 1-833-236-3700
📋 Contact: File complaint online: services.labour.gov.bc.ca/Complaints
When: To file a formal wage claim in BC. They handle minimum wage, overtime, and payment disputes. Submit complaints online through the BC Labour Services portal.

Legal Aid BC

📱 Phone: 1-866-577-2525
🌐 Website: legalaid.bc.ca
When: For free legal advice and help understanding your rights

Access Pro Bono

🌐 Website: accessprobono.ca
When: For free legal advice and assistance with employment disputes

Your School's Legal Clinic

📋 Contact: Check your school's website (see 'Supports at Your School' page)
When: If your school offers free legal services for students

WorkSafeBC

📱 Phone: 1-888-621-7233
When: If workplace safety issues are involved. Learn about your right to refuse unsafe work and how to report safety concerns.

🚩Red Flags

  • ⚠ī¸Employer asks you to work 'off the books' or 'under the table'
  • ⚠ī¸Paycheck bounces or is repeatedly delayed
  • ⚠ī¸Deductions you didn't agree to
  • ⚠ī¸Being paid less than minimum wage
  • ⚠ī¸Not being paid for overtime (in BC, generally after 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week, varies by industry)
  • ⚠ī¸Employer refuses to provide pay stubs
  • ⚠ī¸Threats if you complain about pay
  • ⚠ī¸Tips being taken by employer (usually illegal)
  • ⚠ī¸Being asked to sign papers 'waiving' wage rights

📝Templates

Click "Copy" to copy any template to your clipboard, then paste and customize it.

Formal Payment Request Letter

Subject: Request for Payment of Outstanding Wages Dear [EMPLOYER NAME], I am writing to formally request payment of wages owed to me for work performed from [START DATE] to [END DATE]. Amount owed: $[TOTAL AMOUNT] Breakdown: - Hours worked: [HOURS] - Rate agreed: $[RATE]/hour - Dates: [DATES] - Already paid: $[PAID] - Outstanding: $[OWED] Please remit payment by [DATE - 10 days from now]. If payment is not received by this date, I will file a formal wage claim with Employment Standards BC. I have attached documentation of hours worked and our employment agreement. Thank you, [YOUR NAME] [PHONE] [EMAIL]

Wage Claim Summary

Employer: [NAME] Address: [ADDRESS] Your name: [YOUR NAME] Employment period: [START] to [END] Total owed: $[AMOUNT] Hours worked: [HOURS] Agreed rate: $[RATE]/hour Actual payments received: $[PAID] Outstanding: $[OWED] Last day worked: [DATE] Communication attempts: [DATES AND METHODS]

Email to Legal Aid

Subject: Help with Unpaid Wages Hello, I am a student at [UNIVERSITY] and need help recovering unpaid wages from [EMPLOYER NAME]. Summary: - Dates worked: [DATES] - Amount owed: $[AMOUNT] - Employer response: [DETAILS] - I have documentation: [YES/NO] I would like to schedule a consultation to discuss my options. Thank you, [YOUR NAME] [STUDENT ID] [CONTACT INFO]