In British Columbia, when the employment standards state that final payment must be made “within 48 hours after the last day an employee works when an employer ends employment,” it typically means that the money must be made available to the employee within 48 hours after their last day of work.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the money needs to be physically in the employee’s bank account within that time frame. It means that the employer should initiate the payment process so that the funds become accessible to the employee within 48 hours. This could involve processing the payment through the regular payroll system or an off-cycle payroll.
Given your situation where the off-cycle payroll takes about 3 business days to process, you may want to consult with your HR department or legal counsel to ensure compliance with the specific employment standards in British Columbia. In some cases, employers may need to make a reasonable effort to expedite final payments to meet legal requirements. However, the exact interpretation can vary, so it’s important to seek guidance to ensure compliance with local labor laws.
