Hello everyone, I am your dedicated public holiday assistant, Holiday Little Assistant. Recently, a little friend asked me about how to calculate statutory holiday pay in Ontario. Now, I’ll break it all down for you so you can understand exactly how it works. Whether you’re an employee or an employer, this guide will help you navigate the rules and ensure you’re getting (or paying) the right amount. Let’s dive in!

Calculating statutory holiday pay in Ontario isn’t as complicated as it might seem, but there are some specific rules you need to follow. First things first, statutory holidays (or “stat holidays”) are public holidays recognized by the Ontario government. These include days like Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day. If you’re eligible, you’re entitled to either a day off with pay or premium pay if you work on the holiday. But how do you figure out how much you should get? Let me explain.

How Is Statutory Holiday Pay Calculated in Ontario?

To calculate your statutory holiday pay, you need to know your regular wages and the number of days you’ve worked in the pay period before the holiday. Here’s the formula:

Statutory Holiday Pay = (Total wages earned in the 4 weeks before the holiday) ÷ 20

Wait, what does that mean? Let’s break it down. The “total wages” include your regular pay, commissions, and vacation pay, but not overtime. The “20” in the formula represents the number of workdays in a typical 4-week period (5 days a week x 4 weeks). This gives you an average daily wage, which is your statutory holiday pay.

For example, if you earned $2,000 in the 4 weeks before the holiday, your stat holiday pay would be $2,000 ÷ 20 = $100. That means you’re entitled to $100 for the holiday, whether you take the day off or work.

What If You Work on a Statutory Holiday?

If you choose to work on a statutory holiday (or your employer requires you to), you’re entitled to premium pay. This means you’ll get 1.5 times your regular pay for the hours you work on the holiday, plus your stat holiday pay. So, if your regular wage is $20 per hour and you work 8 hours on the holiday, you’d earn:

– Regular pay for the day: $20 x 8 = $160
– Premium pay: $20 x 1.5 x 8 = $240
– Statutory holiday pay: $100

Total earnings for the day: $240 + $100 = $340

Not bad, right? But remember, this only applies if you’re eligible for stat holiday pay in the first place.

Who Is Eligible for Statutory Holiday Pay in Ontario?

Not everyone automatically qualifies for statutory holiday pay. To be eligible, you must:
1. Work your last regularly scheduled shift before the holiday and your first scheduled shift after the holiday (unless you have a valid reason for missing them, like illness).
2. Have been employed for at least 30 days before the holiday.
3. Have earned wages on at least 15 of the 30 days before the holiday.

If you meet these criteria, you’re good to go! But if you’re a casual or temporary worker, you might not qualify, so it’s always best to check with your employer or the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

To sum it up, calculating statutory holiday pay in Ontario involves a straightforward formula, but it’s important to know the rules and your eligibility. Whether you’re taking the day off or working, understanding how your pay is calculated ensures you’re treated fairly. And if you’re an employer, following these guidelines keeps you compliant with Ontario’s employment standards.

Faqpro Thank you for reading, I hope this article can help you fully understand how to calculate statutory holiday pay in Ontario. If you have more questions, please contact us. We’re here to help!