Your first day at work
Your first week comes with forms that set up your tax and pay. Most employers pay every two weeks, and health and dental benefits often start after a waiting period. Expect safety training too.
In 30 seconds
- Give your employer your SIN and fill in the federal and provincial TD1 forms, so the right tax comes off your pay
- Many employers pay every two weeks, by direct deposit. Your T4 slip arrives by the end of February
- Workplace benefits and probation often run for about 3 months. Health and safety training, including WHMIS if you handle chemicals, is part of starting
The forms in your first week
| Form | What it does |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | Your tax and benefits number, like a UK National Insurance number. See SIN and tax |
| Federal TD1 | Tells your employer which tax credits to apply, such as the basic personal amount |
| Provincial TD1 (for example TD1ON or TD1BC) | The same for provincial tax. In Quebec you fill in Revenu Québec’s TP-1015.3-V instead |
| Direct deposit form | Your bank details: a void cheque or your bank’s direct deposit form. See Opening a bank account |
| Benefits enrolment | Choosing health, dental and other cover, and naming dependants |
If you have two jobs, claim the basic personal amount with one employer only, or you may owe tax at the end of the year. A SIN starting with 9 is issued to temporary residents and has an expiry date tied to your permit; tell your employer when you get a new one.
How you’re paid
Unlike the UK, where monthly pay is the norm, many Canadian employers pay every two weeks (bi-weekly), giving 26 paydays a year. Two months a year have three paydays, which helps with budgeting. Others pay semi-monthly (24 times a year). Pay arrives by direct deposit, with a pay stub showing gross pay and deductions.
- Federal and provincial income tax
- CPP contributions (QPP in Quebec): see Pensions and savings
- EI premiums (Employment Insurance), plus QPIP in Quebec
- Your share of benefits and any workplace pension
At the end of February you get a T4 slip summarising your pay and deductions for the year (plus an RL-1 in Quebec). You need it for your tax return. Check your first pay stub carefully. The pay calculator shows roughly what to expect.
Benefits and waiting periods
Provincial health plans cover doctors and hospitals. Workplace benefits fill gaps: prescription drugs, dental, eye care, physiotherapy and sometimes mental health support. Many employers have a waiting period, often 3 months, before cover starts. Ask on day one when your benefits begin, and sort private cover for the gap if you need prescriptions or dental work. See Healthcare in Canada.
Probation
Many contracts start with a probation period, often 3 months. Employment standards set minimum notice once you pass a threshold. In Ontario, for example, an employer doesn’t have to give statutory notice or pay in lieu if you have worked there less than 3 months, although your contract may give more. Other provinces set similar thresholds. Your full rights are in Your rights at work.
Health and safety training
Expect a safety induction. If you work with hazardous products, you get WHMIS training. WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is Canada’s system for labelling chemicals and safety data sheets, like COSHH in the UK, and is aligned with the global GHS system. You have the right to know about hazards, to take part in safety at work and to refuse unsafe work. In Ontario, workers must complete basic health and safety awareness training.
Day one culture
- Workplaces are usually polite and fairly informal: first names for most people
- Canadians tend to be less blunt than Brits; sarcasm can be misread at first
- In Quebec, French is the normal language of work, and employers must be able to communicate with you in French
- Bring your SIN, ID, work permit and bank details on day one
- More on office life in Working in Canada
What to do next
- Bring your SIN, work permit and a void cheque or direct deposit form to day one
- Ask when benefits start and how long probation lasts
- Check your first pay stub for the right tax, CPP and EI
Keep going
- Canada Revenue Agency: TD1 Personal Tax Credits Returns
- Service Canada: Social Insurance Number
- Revenu Québec: TP-1015.3-V Source Deductions Return
- Government of Ontario: Your guide to the Employment Standards Act, termination of employment
- Health Canada: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- CCOHS: WHMIS, general
- Office québécois de la langue française