Stat holiday pay for temp workers: Ontario vs BC vs Alberta (with the math)

Ontario statutory holiday pay: the 4-week formula

In Ontario, temp workers qualify for statutory holiday pay just like any other employee. The formula is: (wages in the 4 work weeks before the holiday + vacation pay in those 4 weeks) ÷ 20. The division by 20 represents a pro-rated 5-day work week across 4 weeks.

Ontario has no service requirement to qualify, which is why temp workers qualify so readily. There is one condition that catches people: a worker loses the entitlement if they fail, without reasonable cause, to work all of their last regularly scheduled shift before the holiday or all of their first regularly scheduled shift after it. That is the last and first rule, and it is the eligibility test in Ontario, not a days-worked count.

If the worker works the holiday, the employer picks one of two routes and they pay differently. By default the worker gets regular wages for the hours worked plus a substitute day off with public holiday pay. Alternatively, if the worker agrees in writing or electronically, they get public holiday pay plus premium pay at 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked, and no substitute day. The premium is never a replacement for the holiday pay under that second route; both are owed.

Ontario worked example

A temp worker in Ontario has earned $2,400 in regular wages and $96 in vacation pay over the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. The public holiday pay is: ($2,400 + $96) ÷ 20 = $2,496 ÷ 20 = $124.80. Now say they work 8 hours on Christmas at a $20 regular rate. If they agreed in writing to premium pay, the day is $124.80 public holiday pay + (8 × $20 × 1.5 = $240) premium = $364.80, and no substitute day. On the default route instead, they are paid 8 × $20 = $160 in regular wages for the day, and they get a substitute day off later paid at the $124.80 public holiday pay. The premium route does not replace the $124.80; that is the mistake to avoid.

BC statutory holiday pay: eligibility and average day formula

BC statutory holiday eligibility requires: the employee has worked for the employer for at least 30 calendar days AND worked or earned wages on 15 of those 30 days before the holiday. Once eligible, the holiday pay is: total wages in the 30 days ÷ days worked in that period (overtime excluded). Temp workers have the same rights as directly hired employees.

If the worker is scheduled to work the holiday, they earn 1.5 times their regular rate for the first 12 hours worked, then 2 times their regular rate for hours beyond 12. They also receive their average day's pay on top of the premium.

BC worked example

A temp worker in BC has earned $1,200 over the past 30 days and worked 20 of those days. Average day's pay is: $1,200 ÷ 20 = $60. If they work a statutory holiday for 10 hours at $20 per hour regular rate, they earn: ($60) + (10 × $20 × 1.5) = $60 + $300 = $360 for that day.

Alberta general holiday pay: 30 workday eligibility and 4-week window

In Alberta, an employee qualifies for general (statutory) holiday pay if they have worked for the same employer for at least 30 workdays in the 12 months before the holiday. Average daily wage is calculated by: total wages in a 4-week period ÷ days worked in that period (overtime excluded). The employer chooses which 4-week period to use: either the 4 weeks immediately before the holiday or the 4 weeks ending on the last day of the pay period before the holiday.

If the worker is scheduled to work a general holiday on their regular workday, they earn the average daily wage PLUS 1.5 times their regular wage for each hour worked. If it is not a regular workday, they earn 1.5 times only.

Alberta worked example

A temp worker in Alberta has earned $1,600 over the past 4 weeks and worked 20 days. Average daily wage is: $1,600 ÷ 20 = $80. If they work a general holiday (a regular workday) for 8 hours at $20 per hour regular rate, they earn: $80 + (8 × $20 × 1.5) = $80 + $240 = $320 for that day.

Comparison table: Ontario, BC, and Alberta

How many statutory or general holidays are there in each province?

Ontario (9 holidays)

• New Year's Day
• Family Day (3rd Monday in February)
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day (Monday before May 25)
• Canada Day
• Labour Day (1st Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving Day (2nd Monday in October)
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day (December 26)

BC (11 holidays)

• New Year's Day
• Family Day (3rd Monday in February)
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day (Monday before May 25)
• Canada Day
• BC Day (1st Monday in August)
• Labour Day (1st Monday in September)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
• Thanksgiving Day (2nd Monday in October)
• Remembrance Day (November 11)
• Christmas Day

Note: Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays in BC.

Alberta (9 holidays)

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• Alberta Family Day (3rd Monday in February)
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day (Monday before May 25)
• Canada Day (July 1 or July 2 if July 1 is Sunday)
• Labour Day (1st Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving Day (2nd Monday in October)
• Remembrance Day (November 11)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

Note: Boxing Day, Easter Monday, and Heritage Day are not general holidays in Alberta but may be designated as paid holidays by individual employers.

Key differences between the provinces

• Ontario uses a simple 4-week lookback; BC and Alberta require longer service history before a worker becomes eligible.
• BC's premium escalates to 2x after 12 hours worked, while Ontario and Alberta cap premium at 1.5x.
• Ontario and Alberta recognize Boxing Day as a statutory/general holiday; BC does not.
• BC has 11 statutory holidays compared to Ontario and Alberta's 9 each.