Fair work is not a perk. It is the policy.
We believe quality assembly is inseparable from quality product, so we pay above the legal minimum, protect every right the law affords, and maintain a workplace where people genuinely want to do good work.
The rights every worker carries.
All AquaPress workers are protected under the Ontario Employment Standards Act. These are not favours we extend; they are entitlements we honour without exception.
Above Minimum Wage
Every worker earns at least the current $16.55 hourly minimum; our $18 per-unit rate works out to roughly $18 to $21 per hour depending on assembly efficiency.
Hours of Work
A maximum of 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week of regular work, with overtime paid at 1.5 times the regular rate beyond 44 hours weekly.
Holidays & Vacation
Nine paid public holidays each year, and at least two weeks of vacation time after twelve months of continuous employment.
Termination Notice
Workers are entitled to advance notice, or pay in lieu of notice, should their employment come to an end, exactly as the ESA requires.
Three rights we treat as absolute.
Under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, every member of our production staff holds these protections. Safety training precedes a worker's first shift, and a written safety policy is always available.
The Right to Know
Full disclosure of workplace hazards, including the materials, equipment, and processes used on the assembly floor.
The Right to Participate
A voice in health and safety decisions through a joint health and safety committee that represents the production team.
The Right to Refuse
The right to refuse unsafe work without any reprisal, a protection we treat as absolute rather than aspirational.
What we remit, and why it matters.
As an Ontario employer, we deduct and remit to the Canada Revenue Agency on every paycheck.
- Canada Pension Plan contributions, both employee and employer portions.
- Employment Insurance premiums, both employee and employer portions.
- Federal and provincial income tax withheld from each paycheck.
- Corporate income tax on business profit, calculated at $4.70 per unit.
How compensation grows with us.
In the early phase, our three co-founders draw from their share of true net profit rather than salaries.
Alejandro, Vedh, and Mason are equity holders, not salaried employees, in year one. From year two, as revenue stabilizes, formal salaries enter the financial plan as an expense, which reflects the true cost of running the business honestly.
As we scale to 1,313 units in year two, labour rises proportionally to $23,634 monthly while margins hold. In year three we invest in semi-automated assembly tools that lower per-unit assembly time. Workers produce more per hour, earn the same hourly rate, and the business benefits from a lower per-unit cost.
Want to build with us?
We hire people who care about the quality of what they make. If that sounds like you, reach out and tell us where you fit.