Payroll in Canada runs in CAD on a payroll frequency is set by provincial employment standards and market practice; semi-monthly and biweekly cycles are common cycle, with statutory employer contributions and no federal statutory 13th-month or mandatory bonus; bonuses are contractual. Gracemark operates it end-to-end, humans, not tickets.
Currency
CAD, Canadian dollar
Payroll cycle
Payroll frequency is set by provincial employment standards and market practice; semi-monthly and biweekly cycles are common
Working week
Federally regulated standard hours are 8 per day and 40 per week with overtime generally at time and a half after 40 hours; provincially regulated employees follow their province's rules
Minimum wage
Minimum wage is set by each province and territory, and federally regulated employers must pay at least the rate of the province where the employee works
13th-month
No federal statutory 13th-month or mandatory bonus; bonuses are contractual
Employer cost
Employers match CPP contributions, including CPP2 above the first ceiling, and pay EI premiums at 1.4 times the employee rate; Quebec operates its own QPP and QPIP regimes
Probation
Canada sets limits on probation length and how it can be used. We confirm the permitted terms for your contract.
Notice period
The Canada Labour Code requires written notice or pay in lieu based on service and statutory severance after 12 months of continuous employment; provincially regulated employees follow provincial employment standards
Two ways to run payroll in Canada
Own-entity payroll
For long-term presence in Canada. Gracemark manages statutory filings, pay runs, and year-end reporting under your entity, with a named operator on North America time.
EOR-run payroll
No entity in Canada? Employ and pay talent under Gracemark's local infrastructure via EOR, onboard in 1–2 weeks (eor), no local incorporation.
Compliance essentials in Canada
Common-law 'reasonable notice' can far exceed statutory minimums on termination
Each province has its own Employment Standards Act
Generous, EI-funded parental leave is a key expectation
Quebec adds French-language and distinct civil-law requirements
Strong contractor-misclassification scrutiny
Get a payroll quote for Canada
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