Knowing if you’re eligible for statutory holiday pay and which holidays qualify as paid holidays is essential. This article outlines the eligibility criteria, calculation methods, and timesheet reporting requirements for statutory holidays.
Who is eligible for statutory holiday pay?
Here’s what you need to know about eligibility:
Your employment status:
Only temporary employees are eligible for holiday pay.
Provincial legislation:
Each province has its own list of statutory holidays. Only holidays recognized as statutory in your province are eligible for holiday pay. Be sure to check the holidays that apply where you work.
Exceptions:
Some provinces have additional eligibility requirements under their Employment Standards Act (ESA). For example, in certain provinces and territories, you are eligible for statutory holiday pay if you have worked at least 15 of the 30 days leading up to the holiday or have been employed for 30 days.
Client recognized holidays:
Some clients may observe holidays that are not considered statutory in the province where you work.
For example, a federally regulated client might recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday. However, if this holiday is not recognized as a statutory holiday in your province, Procom does not provide statutory holiday pay for that day.
In this case, the client’s offices might be closed, but Procom considers it a regular workday. If you don’t work, the day will be unpaid.
Who is not eligible for statutory holiday pay?
Independent contractors (whether incorporated or sole proprietors) are not eligible for statutory holiday pay. If they work on a statutory holiday, they’ll be paid their regular rate for the hours worked. Statutory holiday pay is a benefit specifically for employees.
How is statutory holiday pay calculated?
The way your holiday pay is calculated depends on a couple of factors:
Did you work on the holiday?
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- If you didn’t work, your holiday pay is based on your average hours worked, multiplied by your hourly rate (check your province’s ESA for the exact formula).
- If you did work, you’ll be paid for the hours you worked (at regular or overtime rates, depending on your province’s rules), plus your statutory holiday pay.
Your recent earnings
Your holiday pay is usually based on your earnings from the weeks before the holiday.
Want to dive deeper into the specifics? Take a look at your province's employment standards site by going to the article, "Links to Employment Standards Websites - Statutory Holidays".
What should I put on my timesheet?
- If you worked on the holiday: Enter the exact number of hours you worked on the holiday.
- If you didn't work on the holiday: Enter 0 hours for that day—don’t leave it blank!
We will automatically calculate statutory holiday pay (and premium pay, if applicable), so you don't need to enter additional hours for these days.
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