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Statutory Holidays in British Columbia: 2024 Guide
Statutory holidays in British Columbia, also called public holidays or stat holidays in Canada, are legislated paid days off work for employees in Canada. Each province sets its rules, regulations and eligible statutory holidays under provincial employment standards legislation.
In British Columbia, employees are entitled to 11 statutory holidays each calendar year. This guide will examine every key aspect of statutory holidays in BC for 2024 in extensive detail for both employers and employees.
Topics covered include:
- The complete list of statutory holiday dates in BC for 2024
- Eligibility requirements for employees
- How statutory holiday pay is calculated with examples
- Premium pay rates and calculations for working statutory holidays
- Substitute holiday provisions and rules
- Considerations for terminations around statutory holidays
- Additional regulations from the BC Employment Standards Act
Continue reading for a comprehensive overview of statutory holiday entitlements, pay, eligibility, and responsibilities in British Columbia for 2024.
The Complete List of Statutory Holidays in BC for 2024
The table below outlines the 11 statutory holidays that will occur in 2024, which British Columbia employees are entitled to take off with pay:
| Statutory Holiday | 2024 Date | Day of Week |
| 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 |
| BC Day | August 5 | Monday |
| Labour Day | September 2 | Monday |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30 | Saturday |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 14 | Monday |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 | Monday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Wednesday |
It is essential for employers to carefully plan for and accommodate all 11 statutory holidays when managing schedules, payrolls, vacation approvals and coordinating business operations in British Columbia.
The addition of the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation statutory holiday is an essential change that employers must now factor into statutory holiday administration.
Which Employees Qualify for Statutory Holidays in British Columbia?
Not all employees will automatically qualify for paid statutory holidays in BC. To be eligible, workers must meet specific criteria:
Minimum Employment Tenure
- To qualify, employees must be employed for at least 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday occurs.
Days Worked in the Previous 30 Days
- In the 30 calendar days leading up to the stat holiday, employees must have worked or earned wages on 15 days.
- This counts any days worked, paid vacation days, paid sick days, or other paid statutory holidays.
For example:
- Canada Day statutory holiday occurs on Monday, July 1, 2024
- To be eligible, the employee must have worked/earned wages for 15 of the 30 days between June 1 and June 30, 2024.
Read more: Minimum Wage in British Columbia
Part-Time and Full-Time Employees
- Both full-time and part-time employees qualify for statutory holiday pay if they meet the minimum 30-day and 15-day requirements.
Employees on Day Off Still Qualify
- If a statutory holiday falls on an employee’s normal day off, the employee maintains eligibility for stat holiday pay.
Probationary Period Employees
- Probationary employees also qualify if they meet the tenure and days worked thresholds.
In summary, most employees – full-time, part-time, probationary, casual, etc. – are entitled to take statutory holidays with pay in BC if they meet the minimum employment standards for eligibility.
How to Calculate Pay for Statutory Holidays in British Columbia
Eligible employees are entitled to receive statutory holiday pay in BC based on their average daily wage, calculated using the following formula:
Total Wages Earned in 30 Days Prior to Holiday ÷ Number of Days Worked in 30 Days Prior to Holiday.
This formula determines an employee’s average day’s pay, which is what they are owed for the statutory holiday.
Calculating Total Wages
Total wages include:
- Regular wages/pay
- Overtime wages
- Commissions
- Paid vacation days
- Other statutory holiday pay
- Tips and gratuities
Bonuses are not included in total wages for statutory holiday pay calculations.
Statutory Holiday Pay Calculation Example
- Employee earned $4,200 total wages in the 30 days before the statutory holiday
- The employee worked 18 of the 30 days
- $4,200 total wages / 18 days worked = $233 average daily wage
Therefore, this employee would receive $233 regular statutory holiday pay for the day off according to paid time off policies in Canada.
Premium Pay for Working on Statutory Holidays in British Columbia
Employees in British Columbia who work on a statutory holiday are entitled to premium pay in addition to their regular statutory holiday pay when eligible.
The premium pay requirements are:
- 1.5X the regular wage for all hours worked up to 12 hours on the statutory holiday
- 2X the regular wage for any hours worked beyond 12 hours on the statutory holiday
For example:
- The employee’s regular hourly wage is $21
- The employee worked a 9-hour shift on the statutory holiday
- They would earn:
- 1.5 x $21 x 9 hours = $283.50 premium pay
- Plus, their calculated regular statutory holiday pay
In this scenario, the total statutory holiday pay owed would be the $283.50 premium pay plus the employee’s regular stat holiday pay for an average day’s wages.
Substitute Holiday Rules in British Columbia
The British Columbia Employment Standards Act allows employers and employees to mutually agree to substitute another day off work for a statutory holiday.
For example, Canada Day on Monday, July 1, could be substituted with the previous Friday or the following Tuesday by agreement.
Key substitute holiday provisions:
- Agreement must be made in writing
- Substitute day must fall within the same pay period as the original statutory holiday
- Pay and calculations for the substitute day follow standard statutory holiday guidelines
Employers should ensure proper administration for any substitute statutory holidays.
Considerations for Terminations Around Statutory Holidays
Employees who are terminated, whether with or without cause, maintain eligibility for any statutory holiday pay they qualified for during their final period of employment.
For instance, if an employee was terminated in the first week of December and met the eligibility requirements for Christmas Day statutory holiday pay, the employer must still pay this amount.
It is highly recommended that employees terminated shortly before or after a statutory holiday consult an employment lawyer to ensure they receive their full entitlements. Do not accept any severance offer without understanding the implications of statutory holidays.
Additional Statutory Holiday Rules and Regulations
Beyond the major regulations covered, below are other important statutory holiday guidelines:
- Banked overtime cannot replace owed statutory holiday pay
- Salaried employees maintain holiday entitlements if eligible
- Extra pay or substitute days cannot replace statutory holiday pay
- Employers cannot average statutory holiday pay over more extended periods
- Ineligible employees who work statutory holidays receive regular day’s wages
- Statutory holiday pay must be paid out within 8 days of the holiday
- Medical notes cannot be required for taking statutory holidays
Key Takeaways for Statutory Holidays in BC
Some key takeaways include:
- There are 11 statutory holidays that BC employees are entitled to in 2024
- Employees must meet minimum tenure and days worked eligibility criteria
- Statutory holiday pay is calculated using a total wages formula
- Premium pay is owed for any statutory holidays worked
- Substitute holidays can be agreed to in writing
- Terminated employees may still be owed statutory holiday pay
- Many additional rules and regulations apply per the BC ESA
With a complete understanding of public holiday entitlements and obligations, both employers and employees can ensure proper administration, coordination, payments, and employee satisfaction around statutory holidays in British Columbia.
FAQs related to statutory holidays in British Columbia
How many statutory holidays are there in British Columbia in 2024?
There are 11 statutory holidays that employees in BC are entitled to in 2024: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, BC Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day.
What are the statutory holiday dates in British Columbia in 2024?
The statutory holiday dates in British Columbia for 2024 are:
January 1, February 19, March 29, May 20, July 1, August 5, September 2, September 30, October 14, November 11, and December 25.
Who qualifies for statutory holiday pay in British Columbia?
To qualify for statutory holiday pay in BC, employees must have been employed for 30 calendar days before the holiday and have worked or earned wages on 15 of the 30 days prior to the stat holiday. This applies to full-time, part-time and probationary employees.
How is statutory holiday pay calculated in British Columbia?
Statutory holiday pay is calculated as total wages earned in the 30 calendar days prior to the holiday divided by the number of days worked in that 30 day period. This determines the employee's average day's pay for the stat holiday.
What is included in total wages for statutory holiday pay calculations?
Total wages includes regular wages, overtime, commissions, paid vacation and sick days, other stat holiday pay, and tips/gratuities. Bonus pay is not included.
Are employees entitled to premium pay for working statutory holidays in BC?
Yes, eligible employees in BC are entitled to premium pay of 1.5 times their regular wage for up to 12 hours worked on a statutory holiday. Any hours beyond 12 are paid at 2 times the regular wage.
Can employers and employees substitute another day for a statutory holiday in BC?
Yes, the BC Employment Standards Act allows for substitute days to be agreed to in writing between employers and employees, as long as the substitute day falls within the same pay period.
Are terminated employees still owed statutory holiday pay in BC?
Yes, employees who are terminated in BC maintain eligibility for any statutory holiday pay they qualified for during their final period of employment.
When must statutory holiday pay be paid out in British Columbia?
BC employers must pay out any owed statutory holiday pay within 8 days of the statutory holiday.
Where can I find more information on statutory holidays in British Columbia?
You can visit the BC Employment Standards Branch website for additional resources on statutory holiday entitlements, pay calculations, premium pay, substitute days, and other regulations.
Article Sources
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Statutory Holidays in British Columbia: 2024 Guide
Ben Nguyen