Resolution meetings
Last updated on August 1, 2026A resolution meeting is an opportunity to quickly resolve a B.C. employment standards complaint with the help of a resolution officer.
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What is a resolution meeting?
After an employee makes a complaint against an employer, Employment Standards may require them both to attend a resolution meeting. The goal is for both parties to agree on an outcome that:
- Resolves the complaint
- Follows B.C. employment standards
Employment Standards will contact you by email or phone to schedule a meeting. You can attend the meeting online or by phone.
A resolution meeting isn't an alternative to an investigation – it's part of the process. It's an opportunity for an early and fair outcome without the need for a formal written decision.
Attendance
Most parties who attend resolution meetings can resolve the dispute with the assistance of Employment Standards. You can benefit from a resolution meeting even if it doesn't resolve the complaint:
- You can learn about the law, the complaint issues, and how to prepare for an investigation
- You'll learn about the possible investigation outcomes
If Employment Standards selects a complaint for a resolution meeting, attendance is mandatory. Voluntary and fair complaint resolution is only possible if both parties participate.
If a party doesn't attend, Employment Standards may:
- Close the complaint, if the complainant doesn't attend and doesn't respond when contacted
- Proceed to investigation and/or decision, if the employer doesn't attend
We know there may be barriers to attending a resolution meeting, and we assess these barriers on a case-by-case basis. We may excuse parties due to major complicating factors, such as:
- We cannot identify the correct employer
- The employer has many complaints against them at the same time
- The complaint was filed by a concerned third party who claims no wages for themselves
- The complainant is under 19 years old and a parent/guardian isn't available to attend
To ask to be excused, contact Employment Standards after you receive notice of a resolution meeting, and explain why you cannot attend. You may be excused if attending would be unsafe, unfair or unreasonable. If we don't approve your request, you must attend.
If we don't select a complaint for a resolution meeting, it proceeds to investigation.
At the meeting
You'll meet with the other party and an Employment Standards resolution officer, who:
Guides the discussion
The officer takes the lead in the meeting and makes sure it stays respectful, so both parties can talk effectively about the dispute and why they believe wages are or are not owed.
The officer ensures that any agreement meets the goals of the law, including:
- Fair and efficient dispute resolution
- Open communication between the parties
- Ensuring that B.C. employees receive at least the minimum standards of employment
Asks about the facts
Everyone gets the chance to:
- Understand the complaint
- Present their side of the issue
- Hear the other party's story as well
You'll usually get an opportunity to respond to the other party.
The resolution officer may ask you to bring documents with you or have them available for review.
Provides education
The officer shares what the law says and how it may apply in this case. They will assess what may be owed under the law, and may explore options to efficiently resolve the dispute.
After the meeting
Many complaints resolve through a resolution meeting.
If everyone agrees on an outcome, the resolution officer helps finalize their agreement. This could mean an employer paying wages or a complainant withdrawing the complaint if no wages are owed.
Afterwards, the resolution officer confirms that the complaint is resolved and closed.
If the meeting doesn't resolve the dispute:
- Any information or documents from the meeting become part of the case
- The complaint proceeds to a full investigation
Because Employment Standards receives a high volume of complaints, an officer won't be able to investigate right away. The resolution meeting doesn't affect the complaint's place in the queue.
What you can do
If you're having issues at work, find out what you can do:
References from the Employment Standards Act and Regulation
Employment Standards Act