Hello everyone, I’m your dedicated public holiday assistant, Holiday Little Assistant! Recently, one of our readers asked me, “How is public holiday pay calculated in Ontario?” It’s a great question, and I know many of you might be wondering the same thing. Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered! Today, I’ll break down everything you need to know about public holiday pay in Ontario, so you can make sure you’re getting what you’re owed. Let’s dive in!

Public holiday pay in Ontario is designed to ensure that employees are fairly compensated when they take a day off for a statutory holiday. The calculation might seem a bit tricky at first, but once you understand the formula, it’s pretty straightforward. Essentially, your public holiday pay is based on the wages you’ve earned in the weeks leading up to the holiday. Here’s how it works: you take your total regular wages earned in the four work weeks before the holiday, divide that by 20, and that’s your public holiday pay. Simple, right? Well, let’s break it down even further.

Questions Related to Public Holiday Pay in Ontario

1. Who is eligible for public holiday pay in Ontario?
To qualify for public holiday pay, you need to meet certain criteria. First, you must have worked your last scheduled shift before the holiday and your first scheduled shift after the holiday (unless you have a valid reason for missing them, like illness). Second, you need to have been employed for at least 13 weeks before the holiday. If you meet these conditions, you’re entitled to public holiday pay.

2. What counts as “regular wages” in the calculation?
Regular wages include your base pay, commissions, and most other types of compensation you earn from your job. However, overtime pay, vacation pay, and certain bonuses are not included in the calculation. So, when you’re adding up your wages for the four weeks before the holiday, make sure you’re only counting your regular earnings.

3. What if I work on a public holiday?
If you choose to work on a public holiday, you’re entitled to your regular holiday pay plus premium pay for the hours you work. Premium pay is 1.5 times your regular rate. So, if you work 8 hours on a holiday, you’ll get your holiday pay plus 1.5 times your hourly rate for those 8 hours. It’s a nice little bonus for working on a day off!

4. Do part-time employees get public holiday pay?
Yes, part-time employees are also entitled to public holiday pay, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. The calculation is the same—total regular wages over the four weeks before the holiday, divided by 20. So, even if you only work a few hours a week, you’re still entitled to your share of holiday pay.

5. What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
In Ontario, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, most employees get the following Monday off as a substitute holiday. The same rules for holiday pay apply—you’ll get your regular holiday pay based on the four weeks leading up to the holiday.

To sum it up, public holiday pay in Ontario is all about fairness. Whether you’re taking the day off or working through it, the goal is to make sure you’re compensated for your time. The formula might seem a bit math-heavy at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to understand. Just remember: total regular wages over four weeks, divided by 20, equals your holiday pay. And if you work on the holiday, don’t forget about that sweet premium pay!

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