In Nova Scotia, overtime calculation follows the Labour Standards Code, its general regulations and the Minimum Wage Order (General). They set a minimum: your policy or collective agreement can offer more, never less.
Updated October 9, 2026, based on the Labour Standards Code consolidated to January 1, 2025, the General Labour Standards Code Regulations as of April 1, 2025 and the Minimum Wage Order (General) as of December 1, 2025.
When does an hour become overtime?​
After 48 hours in a week, each hour is paid at least one and a half times the employee's regular hourly wage (Code, section 40(4)). The week runs from Sunday to Saturday, or follows the seven-day period the employer uses as its pay period (Order, section 9).
Today, the rule covers hours the employer requires. From April 1, 2027, the threshold drops to 44 hours and also covers hours the employer permits without requiring them (S.N.S. 2026, c. 17, s. 4, assented to September 18, 2026).
The threshold is weekly. A 12-hour day does not create overtime if the week stays under 48 hours.
Example: a coordinator paid $24 an hour works 50 hours in a week. The first 48 hours are paid at $24 and the next 2 at $36, for $1,152 + $72 = $1,224.
State in your work policy who approves overtime and the rate you pay for it.
See it with your own rules
Feuille de temps calculates, on every timesheet, the hours over the weekly threshold set for your organization, with the multiplier in your policy.
When is overtime based on the minimum wage?​
The general regulations take some groups out of the regular-wage rule (section 2). These employees remain covered by the Minimum Wage Order, which requires at least time and a half the minimum wage after 48 hours (Order, section 10):
- managers, supervisors and employees in a confidential capacity (section 2(2B));
- information technology professionals (section 2(2C));
- employees covered by a collective agreement, exempt from section 40 of the Code (section 2(5)); the department lists them among employees the overtime rules do not cover, and their agreement sets the rate;
- some professions and their students in training, including law, accounting, engineering and psychology (section 2(2)).
The minimum wage has been $17.00 since October 1, 2026 (Order, section 6), so the minimum rate for those hours is $25.50. From 2027, the minimum wage is adjusted every April 1.
Example: an executive director paid $30 an hour works 52 hours. Her regular wage is already above $25.50: by paying all 52 hours at $30, or $1,560, the employer meets the legal minimum. Any premium beyond that is up to your policy.
Who is not covered at all?​
Employees at a playground or summer camp operated on a non-profit basis are excluded both from the 48-hour rule (general regulations, section 2(4B)) and from the Minimum Wage Order (Order, section 2). Apprentices, trainees in government-sponsored programs and transport employees also follow other rules. If in doubt, check your situation with Nova Scotia Labour Standards.
Can overtime be taken as time off?​
The Code and the Order do not provide for time off instead of overtime pay. Before banking overtime, check with Labour Standards what is allowed for your organization.
What happens on a general holiday?​
An employee who works on a general holiday receives holiday pay plus at least one and a half times their regular wage for the hours worked that day (section 41(2)). In a continuous operation, the employer can instead give the paid holiday on another day, right after the employee's vacation or on a day agreed with them (section 41(3)).
To qualify for holiday pay, the employee must have been paid for at least 15 of the 30 previous days, and must have worked their last scheduled day before and first scheduled day after the holiday (section 42). Our article on statutory holidays in Canada lists this year's dates.
How many sick days are there?​
An employee can take up to five days of unpaid leave per year for their own sickness or injury (section 60G(1)). They are entitled to three more unpaid days for the sickness or injury of a child, parent or family member, or for a medical, dental or similar appointment during work hours (section 60G(2)). They let the employer know as soon as possible.
If your organization pays sick days, state in your policy how many and whether they also cover medical appointments.
How many weeks of vacation do employees get?​
The reference year is a continuous 12-month period that starts on the employee's first day of work (sections 32 and 35(3)).
| Employment with the same employer | Vacation | Vacation pay |
|---|---|---|
| Eight years or less | 2 weeks | 4% of the year's wages |
| More than eight years | 3 weeks | 6% of the year's wages |
Vacation must be given within 10 months after the end of the reference year, with at least one week's notice, and vacation pay is due at least one day before it starts (section 32). An employee who worked less than 90% of the regular hours in the year can waive the vacation in writing and receive the vacation pay within the following month (section 33).
Example: a support worker earned $40,000 during her reference year and has five years of employment. She is entitled to two weeks and vacation pay of $1,600.
Each year, flag the employees who pass eight years of employment: their vacation moves to three weeks and their vacation pay to 6%.
Sources​
- Bill 256, S.N.S. 2026, c. 17, Nova Scotia Legislature
- Labour Standards Code, Nova Scotia Legislature
- General Labour Standards Code Regulations, Government of Nova Scotia
- Minimum Wage Order (General), Government of Nova Scotia
- Overtime pay, Nova Scotia Labour Standards
Feuille de temps​
Feuille de temps is timesheet software built for non-profits. Once we have set up your rules with you, it calculates daily and weekly overtime, vacation and sick banks, and percentage-based vacation. To set the threshold, see [overtime premiums](/docs/tutorial-admin/heures-supplementaires-majorees). The rules next door are in our articles on [New Brunswick](/blog/heures-supplementaires-nb) and [Prince Edward Island](/blog/heures-supplementaires-ipe).Frequently asked questions
When does overtime start in Nova Scotia?
After 48 hours in a week, and after 44 hours from April 1, 2027. There is no daily threshold.
Is overtime in Nova Scotia based on the regular wage or the minimum wage?
As a general rule, on the regular wage: time and a half the employee's hourly wage. Some groups, including managers and supervisors, fall under the Minimum Wage Order instead: time and a half the minimum wage, or $25.50 an hour since October 1, 2026.
Do non-profit day camps and playgrounds have to pay overtime?
The law does not require it. Employees at a playground or summer camp operated on a non-profit basis are excluded from the 48-hour rule and from the Minimum Wage Order.
Are sick days paid in Nova Scotia?
No. The Code provides five days of unpaid sick leave per year, plus three more unpaid days for a family member's illness or a medical appointment.
How many weeks of vacation do employees get in Nova Scotia?
Two weeks with vacation pay of 4% of the year's wages, then three weeks and 6% after more than eight years with the same employer.