Part 2 — Trends & Entitlements
Work Hours and Scheduling
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
Work-life balance is essential for your well-being as a dental hygienist. In this installment, we discuss work hours, scheduling, and related entitlements:
- Typical work hours for dental hygienists in BC vary, but generally range from 20 to 40 hours per week. Factors such as practice size and patient volume can influence scheduling.
- Overtime regulations and break entitlements are important aspects of work-life balance. In BC, you are entitled to overtime pay if you work over 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. You are also entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break if you work 5 hours or more in a day. If you are required to be available for work during your meal break, you must be paid for that time.
- Set-up and tear-down time are considered part of your job duties and should be paid if done during your regular work hours. If a patient cancels and you are unable to fill that time with another patient, but continue working, you are entitled to be paid for that time. If your employer sends you home early due to a lack of work, you may still be entitled to a minimum amount of pay for that day.
By understanding your rights and options regarding work hours and scheduling, you can find a work environment that supports your personal and professional life.
