Ontario’s statutory holidays, also known as stat holidays, are an important part of the province’s labor laws, ensuring employees have the opportunity to rest, celebrate, or receive additional pay when working on these days. In this article, we’ll explore the key statutory holidays for 2024 and 2025, explain how holiday pay is calculated, and outline the rules for those required to work on these special dates. Whether you’re an employee looking forward to time off or an employer managing payroll, this guide will provide the clarity you need.
Ontario’s Statutory Holidays for 2024-2025
Statutory holidays in Ontario are days designated by the government when employees are entitled to take the day off with pay. If an employee works on a statutory holiday, they are usually entitled to premium pay. It’s important for both employees and employers to understand these holidays and their rights and responsibilities when it comes to holiday pay.
Here’s a breakdown of the key statutory holidays for Ontario in 2024 and 2025, along with the pay requirements for each:
| Holiday | Date in 2024 | Date in 2025 | Pay Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2024 | January 1, 2025 | Paid day off or premium pay if working |
| Family Day | February 19, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | Paid day off |
| Good Friday | March 29, 2024 | April 18, 2025 | Paid day off or premium pay if working |
| Victoria Day | May 20, 2024 | May 19, 2025 | Paid day off |
| Canada Day | July 1, 2024 | July 1, 2025 | Paid day off |
| Labour Day | September 2, 2024 | September 1, 2025 | Paid day off |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 14, 2024 | October 13, 2025 | Paid day off |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2024 | December 25, 2025 | Paid day off |
| Boxing Day | December 26, 2024 | December 26, 2025 | Paid day off |
What Are Statutory Holidays?
Statutory holidays are official days off that employees are legally entitled to, with full pay. These holidays ensure workers have time to rest and recharge. In Ontario, nine statutory holidays are widely recognized, though some holidays, like Remembrance Day and Civic Holiday (the first Monday in August), are not statutory holidays but may still be observed by certain employers.
Statutory Holidays in Ontario for 2024
For 2024, the statutory holidays in Ontario are as follows:
- New Year’s Day: January 1 (Monday)
- Family Day: February 19 (Monday)
- Good Friday: March 29 (Friday)
- Victoria Day: May 20 (Monday)
- Canada Day: July 1 (Monday)
- Labour Day: September 2 (Monday)
- Thanksgiving Day: October 14 (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25 (Wednesday)
- Boxing Day: December 26 (Thursday)
Statutory Holidays in Ontario for 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, the statutory holidays will be as follows:
- New Year’s Day: January 1 (Wednesday)
- Family Day: February 17 (Monday)
- Good Friday: April 18 (Friday)
- Victoria Day: May 19 (Monday)
- Canada Day: July 1 (Tuesday)
- Labour Day: September 1 (Monday)
- Thanksgiving Day: October 13 (Monday)
- Christmas Day: December 25 (Thursday)
- Boxing Day: December 26 (Friday)
How Statutory Holiday Pay Is Calculated
To qualify for holiday pay in Ontario, an employee must meet the “first and last” rule. This means you must have worked your scheduled shift before the holiday and your scheduled shift after the holiday, unless there is a valid reason for not working.
Holiday pay is calculated by taking the average earnings from the previous four workweeks and dividing that amount by 20. This ensures employees receive fair compensation for statutory holidays, even if they’re not scheduled to work on those days.
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For example, if you worked 40 hours a week at $20 per hour during the four weeks leading up to the holiday, your holiday pay would be calculated as: Holiday Pay=(40×20)×420=160 dollars\text{Holiday Pay} = \frac{(40 \times 20) \times 4}{20} = 160 \text{ dollars}
What If You Work on a Statutory Holiday?
Employees who are required to work on a statutory holiday are entitled to premium pay in addition to their regular holiday pay. This premium is typically 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. In some cases, employers may also provide a substitute day off later in the year.
For example, if you earn $20 per hour and work an 8-hour shift on a statutory holiday, you would receive the following pay: Premium Pay=1.5×20×8=240 dollars\text{Premium Pay} = 1.5 \times 20 \times 8 = 240 \text{ dollars}
This would be added to your regular holiday pay, bringing your total earnings for the day to $400.
What Happens if a Statutory Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
If a statutory holiday falls on a weekend, employees are still entitled to holiday pay. Employers can either provide a substitute day off with pay or offer holiday pay for the actual holiday, depending on the agreement or company policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- When is the next statutory holiday in Ontario? The next statutory holiday is New Year’s Day on January 1, 2024.
- How many statutory holidays are there in Ontario? Ontario observes nine statutory holidays every year.
- What if I work on a statutory holiday? If you work on a statutory holiday, you are entitled to premium pay, which is 1.5 times your regular hourly wage, along with your regular holiday pay.
- Can my employer require me to work on a statutory holiday? Yes, your employer can ask you to work on a statutory holiday, but only if you agree. If you do, your employer must provide either premium pay or a substitute day off.
Conclusion
Understanding Ontario’s statutory holidays and the rules around holiday pay is essential for both employees and employers. By staying informed about the key dates, knowing how holiday pay works, and being aware of your rights when working on holidays, you can ensure compliance with labor laws and make the most of your time off—or extra earnings if you work on these days.