Hiring practices

Hiring practices are the policies and steps a business uses to advertise jobs, screen applicants, interview and make offers. Legally, the key limits in BC are that hiring decisions and job advertisements must not discriminate on protected grounds, and that applicant information must be collected and handled in line with privacy law.

How BC law treats it

Discrimination in job advertisements and in hiring is prohibited by the Human Rights Code, RSBC 1996 c 210 (ss. 11 and 13). Under the Pay Transparency Act, SBC 2023 c 18, publicly advertised job postings must state the expected pay or pay range, and employers may not ask applicants about their pay at other employers. No BC statute requires a written employment contract or job description, although written terms are strongly advisable.

What it means for your business

Clear written offer letters and contracts help a BC employer fix pay, duties and termination terms from the start.

Risks and common mistakes

Asking applicants about protected characteristics such as age, family status or disability can support a human rights complaint even if the applicant was not hired for other reasons.

Browse the full Fulcrum Law Dictionary for related terms.

General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.