Employees can receive two types of holiday pay:
- Statutory holiday pay – an employee is entitled to this pay for being employed during a holiday, whether they work on the holiday or not
- Worked holiday pay – Sometimes called Holiday premium pay, this is pay at an increased hourly rate for working on a holiday
Enter the employee's hours into their Timesheet. If any of the worked days are a holiday, Wave will calculate the appropriate amount of holiday pay based on the employee’s eligibility requirements. Learn about Wave’s payroll accuracy guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How is holiday pay calculated?
Statutory holiday pay is calculated differently depending on which province the business is located in. Each province uses different factors, such as the pay earned in previous pay periods or how long the employee has been employed with the business. These factors determine the statutory holiday pay the employee is entitled to. Worked holiday pay also differs between provinces.
What days count as holidays?
Some statutory holidays are unique to only one province, while others are observed throughout Canada:
|
Province /Territory |
Holidays Observed |
|
Ontario |
New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day |
| British Columbia | New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, B.C. Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Manitoba | New Year's Day, Louis Riel Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day |
| New Brunswick | New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Northwest Territories | New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, National Aboriginal Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Nova Scotia | New Year’s Day, Heritage Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day |
| Nunavut | New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Nunavut Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Alberta | New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Prince Edward Island | New Year's Day, Islander Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Saskatchewan | New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Saskatchewan Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
| Yukon | New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, National Aboriginal Day, Canada Day, Discovery Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day |
Where can I find the holiday rules for my Province?
| Ontario | The Ontario Ministry of Labour |
| British Columbia | Employment Standards |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Labour Board |
| New Brunswick | Jobs and Workplaces |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Labour Relations Board |
| Northwest Territories | Employment Standards |
| Nova Scotia | Employment Rights |
| Nunavut | Labour and Employment Standards |
| Alberta | Alberta Labour Relations Board |
| Prince Edward Island | Labour Relations Board |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board |
| Yukon | Department of Community Services |