Part 1 — Trends & Entitlements
Benefits Offered by Employers
Welcome to a new series from the BCDHA designed to help you understand workplace benefits and entitlements in BC. This series will help you understand trends in dental hygiene benefits, entitlements your employer is legally required to offer, and tips for negotiating your compensation.
What You Need to Know
In this first instalment, we look at some of the benefits and entitlements offered by dental hygienist’s employers in BC:
- According to our recent wage survey, many dental hygienists in BC receive benefits beyond the legally mandated entitlements. Common benefits include free or reduced-cost dental care for themselves and their families, professional development, and uniform allowances (in some cases uniform allowances are an entitlement).
- Benefits and entitlements are not the same. Entitlements are the minimum standards set by law (e.g., the Employment Standards Act), such as paid sick leave and vacation pay, while benefits are additional perks offered by employers.
- Did you know, as of January 1, 2022, all BC workers are now entitled to five paid sick days, and three unpaid sick days, from every employer?
By understanding the current trends and your legal entitlements, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate compensation packages and choose a workplace that aligns with your needs and goals. Stay tuned for our next installment, where we discuss work hours and scheduling.
