What are the temperature and humidity standards for workplaces in Canada?
There are many factors directly related to different kinds of jobs, such as the physical demands of your job or working outside. There is no single value for a maximum temperature or humidity at your work place. There are, however, standards provided by the 
Canadian Standard Association (CSA)
Canadian Standard Association (CSA)- Summer conditions (light clothing) - if the relative humidity is 30%, then the acceptable temperature is 24.5-28°C.
- Summer conditions (light clothing) - if the relative humidity is 60%, then the acceptable temperature range is 23-25.5°C
- Winter conditions (warm clothing) - if the relative humidity is 30%, then the acceptable temperature range is 20.5-25.5°C
- Winter conditions (warm clothing) - if the relative humidity is 60%, then the acceptable temperature range is 20-24°
My workplace is set to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, that is 27 degrees Celsius. It is hot, and I have turned it down, but they have told me to stop this because their hydro bill is 1000$ a month. If they tried to do my job in 80 degree weather they would faint. Last summer I remember temperatures ranging from 86-89 degrees, that is 30+ degrees.
And this isn't the only shit they pull. From the beginning of 2011 until mid February they were taking 5$ off of my and co-workers pay. The deposit to my bank account and the pay stub they gave me for my hours did not match. I went to them and was like:
"wtf mate, mine and some people's pays don't match our stubs?"
and they gave me the difference but they never went to the other workers. I was out 30$ at the time, times that by the 20+ workers at this location and possibly their other businesses and you get 600$. Where is the other 570$??
I have gone to the others and even the ones who bothered to check this out did not really seem to care. It's just five dollars right? Um, no it's your 5$ every pay check. We are generally part-time, student, minimum wage workers. If they take even a penny off of your pay you are working for less than minimum wage and that is a crime.
I emailed the government about this, and I do admit I probably emailed the wrong people because I could not find any single place that seemed like the proper jurisdictional, but I never heard back.
Omg and when I switch or change shifts they treat me like it is a big deal. I have never left them without someone to work. There was one problem week in January where I needed 3 days off in a row for a) an important exam (I left myself available to work for less important exams) b) my fathers birthday c) my anniversary. They outright told me they did not care about the anniversary, and I feel that it because I am a student, and was 17 at the time. Would it be any different if I was 35 and married? To me it felt like an insult, it was very disrespectful of my life. I thought about leaving last November but I figured since I had been working their for over a year I would get more respect, flexibility and seniority than at another job.
The last time I asked to trade shifts he says to me that "if I cannot handle the workload I will be getting less hours". As a side note I asked for less hours. So I am thinking:
"Great, I can finally get the hours that I have been asking for since September, because it would really make my life a lot easier with me trying to balance a full course load, scholarship deadlines, a long distance relationship, family life, and friends"
(from September to November my hours were almost at par with the hours I had been getting in the Summer. I look back on an essay I wrote during this time where I called George Bernard Shaw, Robert. Wtf. I was obviously out of it)
This makes me wonder what the difference is between niceties and necessities in the work place. For instance; do they have to provide free drinking water? If so does tap water count? If tap water counts do they need to provide cups? - cause they don't.
Or maybe; Can an employer chose which holidays they will you pay for? (they have to pay for 9, the Ontario ministry of labour says that family day will be the 9th. My work says no, the civic holiday will be the 9th, I dont know If I will be working there come the civic holiday and a new employer could have chosen family day, seeing as I worked family day, I am out my holiday pay)
the list goes on.
It appears I am becoming as much a pain to them as they are to me. They take advantage of the naivete of their workers, and their dependency on their wages. I just want to work at place that understands the need for flexibility that students require, and you know maybe follow the law.
good rant!
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