HALIFAX — The Minister of Service Nova Scotia has announced the province will make server training mandatory for all beverage-alcohol licensees. This brings Nova Scotia in line with similar requirements in P.E.I. and New Brunswick. The government of Newfoundland doesn’t mandate this training.
Across Canada, the industry is broadly supportive of responsible beverage-alcohol service training, and many operators already make this training a prerequisite for employment.
However, according to a release by Restaurants Canada, this action was taken in Nova Scotia without meaningful consultation, so many questions remain unanswered. In response, the association sent a letter to the Minister of Service Nova Scotia requesting clarification of several issues. Below is a short FAQ addressing questions and concerns.
Mandatory Server Training FAQ
When do these rules come into effect and who is affected?
All servers working in all licensed establishments and some festivals (depending on size and risk) should have received server training by Dec. 1, 2024.
Where do servers get this training, how long does it take, and what is the cost?
The only currently approved training for Nova Scotia is Serve Right Server 2024 through the Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council. It costs $35 and takes two to four hours to complete. It can be found here. Currently, Serve Right Server 2024 is the only course approved by AGFT, however, other courses are currently under consideration for approval. AGFT has indicated these decisions will be coming in the weeks ahead.
What if an employee has already taken the course in Nova Scotia or elsewhere?
Any staff who have already taken safe-serving training in Nova Scotia will be considered compliant or “grandfathered.” While, in the short term, servers who have taken courses in other jurisdictions will be considered compliant, employers and managers are encouraged to ensure all servers are aware of all regulations and practices specific to Nova Scotia. Going forward, all servers working in Nova Scotia will be encouraged to take a course approved by AGFT.
Are there administrative or other penalties for having staff serving who have not taken safe-serving training?
For now, all compliance measures by inspectors will be done through education.
Are there are training courses in French or other languages?
AGFT is currently reviewing courses available in other languages and will be providing guidance before the December deadline.
Do I have to pay my employees for the hours to take the course, and do I have to pay for these courses?
An employer could require a job applicant to complete a responsible alcohol service program before hiring the individual. In this situation, the employer would not be responsible for the cost of the training or for paying the prospective employee for the time they spend taking the training.
With respect to current employees, while there are no express provisions in the Labour Standards Code relating to the payment by the employer of mandatory training, if the employer were to require existing employees to pay for the training, it could raise an issue and result in a complaint from the employee under the deductions from pay rules.
