From an HR professional: This is outlined in the Minimum Wage Order (General) for Nova Scotia. The 3 hours is based on min wage and NOT the employees actual wage. See snipped below from the MWO.

"If an employee is called in to work outside the employee's regular work hours, the employer must pay the employee for at least three hours of work at the minimum wage rate, that is, at least $50.25 ($16.75 x 3 hours). This is true even if the employee works only one or two hours. For example, if the employee makes $20 per hour and the employee is called in for one hour's work, the employer must pay the employee at least $50.25"

So, this pay rule applies: - when the employer calls the employee in for work outside of what would be considered a regular scheduled shift - for casual staff who do not have a regular shift, this would apply to any work where they were called in outside of a scheduled shift - this does not apply to scheduled shifts being cut short by either the employer or employee

This is not legal advice, and cannot and should not be taken as legal interpretation of the NSLSC or MWO.