Career guide · Salary and pay
Part-time, evening and weekend shifts: how does it pay?
Clinics open 7 days have created new schedules. Here is how they are paid and what they change for your income, vacation and benefits.
Does a part-time employee have the same rights as full-time?
Yes under labour standards: same minimum hourly rate, same vacation rules (4% or 6% of gross pay), same statutory holidays (indemnity prorated) and same leaves. The law prohibits paying a lower rate solely because the employee works fewer hours, if she does the same tasks.
Are benefits offered part-time?
It depends on the clinic and the insurer: many group plans require a minimum number of hours a week (often 20 to 25). Ask about the eligibility threshold. A clinic that includes part-time staff in insurance and RRSP sends a strong signal about its culture.
Are evening shifts paid more in dental clinics?
Not by legal obligation. Many clinics open until 7 p.m. offer an evening premium or let employees choose those slots because they suit their lives (shared custody, studies). At Go Dentiste, the Valleyfield clinic is open 7 days a week (until 7 p.m. on Tuesday) and the Vaudreuil-Dorion clinic Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; overall, weekday hours range from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., until 7 p.m. on Tuesday: schedules are built with each person.
How are Sundays and worked holidays paid?
Sunday is a normal day under the law. A worked statutory holiday entitles you to the day’s pay plus the holiday indemnity, or to a paid compensatory day off. The indemnity equals 1/20 of the wages earned in the previous four weeks, overtime excluded.
Is a part-time employee’s vacation reduced?
It is calculated as a percentage of gross pay in the reference year: 4% (under three years of service) or 6% (three years and more), which automatically gives an amount proportional to hours worked. The length of the leave (two or three weeks) stays the same.
Can you combine two part-time clinics?
Yes, it is common among hygienists. Check each contract’s non-competition clause, coordinate schedules and calculate overtime per employer (the 50% premium is calculated separately for each). One banner with two clinics, like Valleyfield and Vaudreuil-Dorion, simplifies everything.
What are guaranteed hours and why do they matter?
The minimum number of hours the clinic commits to pay you each week, even if patients cancel. Without guaranteed hours, a high hourly rate can hide unstable income. Have guaranteed hours written into the job offer.
Does part-time hurt salary progression?
Not if reviews are based on skills rather than hours. Ask whether part-time employees are evaluated and raised on the same grid. In a well-run clinic, a hygienist working three days a week progresses like one working five.
What annual income for three days a week?
Example: hygienist at $40 an hour, 3 days of 8 hours (24 hours) over 48 weeks = about $46,000 gross, plus 4% or 6% vacation pay. Assistant at $25 on the same schedule: about $29,000. The calculation helps compare with a better-paid but less flexible full-time position.
Which clinics offer part-time positions in Montérégie?
Go Dentiste offers full-time and part-time positions (days, plus Tuesday evenings and weekends in Valleyfield) for hygienists, assistants and receptionists in Valleyfield, Vaudreuil-Dorion and Saint-Zotique. State your availability in your application email.
Go further
- 7-day clinic: what schedule for the team?
- Full-time or part-time in a dental clinic
- Dental career guide: the 1,000 questions
- All positions at Go Dentiste
Sources and references
- CNESST — Labour standards in Quebec (brochure)
- CNESST — Time worked, breaks and weekly rest
- Gouvernement du Québec — Dental hygienists: wages and outlook (IMT)
- Gouvernement du Québec — Dental assistants: wages and outlook (IMT)
Content prepared by the Go Dentiste team (Dr Dominic Morel-Maynard, general dentist and owner). Last updated: September 25, 2026. General information for guidance only: only an in-clinic exam can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.