Stat Holidays and Holiday Pay in Ontario 2024
In Ontario for the year 2024, there are 9 statutory holidays for provincially regulated employees, which cover approximately 90% of the workforce. Statutory holidays are also commonly known as public holidays and are officially recognized as such by the provincial government.
Most employees in Ontario have the right to take the day off on a statutory holiday and receive statutory holiday pay. In cases where an employee works on a statutory holiday, they are entitled to receive statutory holiday pay along with premium pay. Alternatively, they can opt to receive their regular wages for the hours worked on the public holiday, plus a substitute holiday for which they must be compensated with statutory holiday pay.
Failing to receive the correct statutory holiday pay and entitlements is considered a violation of the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA) and can result in fines and penalties. It’s crucial for your employer to have a statutory holiday policy outlining your holiday pay.
For federally regulated employees residing in Ontario, their entitlements are associated with federal public holidays, which may not always align with provincial public holidays.
9 Ontario Statutory Holidays in 2024 for Provincial Regulated Employees
In Ontario, there are nine public holidays that all employees should be aware of. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide employees with the appropriate statutory holiday entitlements and pay as defined by Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA). Time off and compensation apply to the following statutory holidays in Ontario:
- New Year’s Day: Monday, January 1, 2024
- Family Day: Monday, February 19, 2024
- Good Friday: Friday, March 29, 2024
- Victoria Day: Monday, May 20, 2024
- Canada Day: Monday, July 1, 2024
- Labour Day: Monday, September 2, 2024
- Thanksgiving Day: Monday, October 14, 2024
- Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25, 2024
- Boxing Day: Thursday, December 26, 2024*
*Notably, Ontario is the only province in Canada where Boxing Day is a statutory holiday for provincially regulated employees.
Additional Notes for Ontario Employees:
- Remembrance Day: (November 11, 2024) is not a statutory holiday for provincial employees in Ontario, although some employers still grant the day off.
- Civic Holiday: (August 5, 2024, or the first Monday in August) is an optional holiday. Provincially regulated employers are not obliged to provide it as a day off, but many choose to do so voluntarily.
12 Statutory Holidays in 2024 for Federally Regulated Employees in Ontario
Federally regulated employees residing in Ontario are entitled to federal public holidays. These holidays may differ from provincial ones. The designated paid holidays for federal employees are:
- New Year’s Day: Monday, January 1, 2024
- Good Friday: Friday, March 29, 2024
- Easter Monday: Monday, April 1, 2024
- Victoria Day: Monday, May 20, 2024
- Canada Day: Monday, July 1, 2024
- Labour Day: Monday, September 2, 2024
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Monday, September 30, 2024
- Thanksgiving Day: Monday, October 14, 2024
- Remembrance Day: Monday, November 11, 2024
- Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25, 2024
- Boxing Day: Thursday, December 26, 2024
- Provincial or civic holiday in the area of employment
Understanding Statutory Holiday Pay or Public Holiday Pay
Statutory Holiday Pay, often referred to as Holiday Pay, is what most employees receive for working on a statutory holiday. This is distinct from vacation pay, which has its own regulations in Ontario.
Eligibility for Statutory Holiday Pay or Holiday Pay
Not all employees in Ontario qualify for holiday pay. Eligibility is determined by the following criteria:
- They fulfill the “Last and First Rule.”
- They work their entire shift on the public holiday as agreed or required.
The “Last and First Rule” entails working both the last regularly scheduled day before and the first regularly scheduled day after the public holiday to qualify for public holiday pay. Even if an employee does not meet these criteria, they should still receive premium pay for the hours worked on a public holiday.
Understanding Premium Pay for Stat Holidays
Premium pay amounts to 1.5 times an employee’s regular rate for every hour worked on a public holiday.
Substitute Holidays
A substitute holiday is designated to replace a public holiday, typically when the public holiday coincides with an employee’s vacation period. The substitute holiday must be taken within three months of the original public holiday.
Special Rules for Certain Industries
Specific industries, including hotels, motels, tourist resorts, restaurants, taverns, hospitals, nursing homes, and continuous operations, have unique regulations concerning statutory holidays in Ontario. These rules determine how employees in these industries are compensated if they are required to work on a statutory holiday.
Stat Holiday Pay on Termination
Upon termination, employers are obligated to provide employees with their public holiday pay. This ensures that employees are compensated even if they couldn’t take their substitute holiday due to termination.
Related Topics
- Vacation Pay in Ontario Explained
- Overtime Pay In Ontario: What You Need To Know
- Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000: Your Handbook
- Is Jury Duty Mandatory in Ontario?
Contact Achkar Law
If you believe you have been denied your statutory holiday pay in Ontario, do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced employment lawyers at Achkar Law. Our dedicated team is here to advocate for your rights and ensure you receive the holiday pay you are entitled to. We are committed to addressing any issues related to unpaid or underpaid stat holiday pay.
Contact us toll-free at 1 (800) 771-7882 or by email at [email protected], and we will be happy to assist you.
