Bill 256: Labour Standards Code (amended)

This bill most directly affects businesses in Nova Scotia's hospitality, food service, and retail industries — restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels, and similar customer-facing operations where staff regularly receive tips. Starting April 1, 2027, owners can no longer pocket tips collected through pooling arrangements unless they personally do the same front-line work as their staff on a regular and substantial basis. Employers who run tip pools must post the pool's details where workers can easily see them, adding a new administrative step. All Nova Scotia employers with hourly or shift workers will also need to start calculating and paying overtime after 44 hours a week instead of 48, which raises payroll costs — especially for small teams that rely on longer shifts.