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Basic RightsInternships, apprenticeships, volunteering, and practicums… Oh my!
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If you work like an employee, you should get paid like an employee.
Should I be paid for that? Click to find out. Still not sure? Contact the Employment Standards Branch.
Volunteering: Not paid
Volunteering is a great way to contribute to your community and help others while meeting people, building skills and getting experience. There should be a certain amount of flexibility and different levels of responsibility compared to paid employees.
Dig Deeper
As a volunteer, you still have responsibilities. You can learn about volunteering and the law here.
Practicums: Not paid
A practicum is part of formal education that offers hands-on training for students. Often found in educational programs like education, medicine, or engineering. It's not considered "work" under employment law and leads to a certificate or diploma.
Internship: Paid
An internship is practical training provided by an employer to individuals, usually after or during completing a degree. Unlike a practicum, it is not required for actually obtaining a degree or certificate. There are not allowed to be “unpaid internships” in BC. If the tasks meet the definition of "work" in employment law, interns are considered employees, and they have all the rights other employees are entitled to like minimum wage.
Legal Lingo
“Work” means the labour or services an employee performs for an employer whether in the employee's residence or elsewhere. See Employment Standards Act & Regulations Definitions
Apprenticeship: Paid
An apprentice is being trained while working for an employer and as such is performing work and must be paid wages.