Holidays for Federally Regulated Employees

Holidays for Federally Regulated Employees

The Canada Labour Code was created to protect the rights of employees in federally regulated businesses and industries across the country. These laws set minimum standards of employment, including regulations for holidays, hours of work and overtime pay, leaves of absence and termination of employment.

Federal employees comprise 6 percent of the Canadian workforce. Employees working in one of the following businesses or industries are likely to be considered to be federally regulated:

  • Marine shipping and air and rail transportation across provincial borders
  • Telephone, cable, radio or television
  • Grain elevators, feed or seed mills
  • Protection of fisheries as natural resources
  • Many First Nation activities
  • Federal Crown corporations and other companies working as part of a federal act
  • Banks
  • Uranium mining

Eligibility

An employee must work for a company for at least 30 days before they are eligible to receive holiday time off and pay. Full-time employees, part-time employees, managers, and professionals all qualify. Employees who work in continuous operations are not eligible for holidays. These employees must report to work if required by the employer.

Holidays

Statutory holidays for federal employees throughout Canada are:

New Year’s Day* (January 1)
Good Friday (April 7 in 2023)
Victoria Day (May 22 in 2023)
Canada Day* (July 1)
Labour Day (Sept 5 in 2022, September 4 in 2023)
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
Thanksgiving Day (October 10 in 2022, October 9 in 2023)
Remembrance Day* (November 11)
Christmas Day* (December 25)
Boxing Day* (December 26)

Should any of the holidays denoted above with an asterisk fall on a Saturday or Sunday, employees are entitled to a holiday with pay on the working day immediately preceding or following the holiday. If any of the other holidays fall on a weekend, the employer must add holiday pay to annual vacation time or supply a floating holiday.

Pay

If an employee works on a holiday, they will be compensated with one and one-half times the regular wage. An employee working in continuous employment can be paid one and one-half times regular wage OR standard wage in addition to a floating holiday.

Summary

Understanding and following the rules identified in the Canada Labour Code is essential. Failure to do so can result in expensive and time-consuming claims filed against your business.

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