How to ask for unpaid wages in writing

This page is a public educational walkthrough. It is not a retainer, a court form, or a promise about your result. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.

1. List the pay periods and the money you say is missing

   Wages, vacation pay, public holiday pay, overtime or termination pay. Approximate dates are better than a feeling.

2. Send one dated message to the employer

   Email or letter with the amount, the period, and a date you expect a reply. Keep the sent copy.

3. Keep pay stubs, schedules and the employment contract if you have one

   Those records travel with an ESA claim later.

4. A written ask is not a Ministry claim yet

   If there is no payment, the usual next public path is an Employment Standards claim, not Small Claims first.

5. If you are unionized, read the grievance timeline

   Some workplaces must use the collective agreement before a Ministry claim.

Official law on this site: employment-workplace-law.

Disclaimer: Know The Law publishes legal information for the public, not legal advice. Court forms, fees and filing channels change. Read the official statute text and the official form page linked from this guide before you act. We do not represent you and we do not file documents for you. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.