Canada Employee Benefits News and Trends - ebs
Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan: 2024 Guide
Statutory holidays in Canada, also known as general or stat holidays, provide employees with paid time off to recognize national, cultural or religious occasions. As an employer in Saskatchewan, you must understand your statutory holiday obligations for 2024.
This extensive guide covers everything Saskatchewan employers need to know, including:
- All 10 statutory holidays in Saskatchewan for 2024, with dates
- Employee eligibility rules for statutory holiday pay
- Formulas for calculating statutory holiday pay
- Premium and overtime pay requirements
- Substitute day rules when stats fall on weekends
- Salary, termination and other considerations
Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan for 2024
Saskatchewan has 10 statutory holidays each calendar year that employers must provide as paid days off for eligible employees.
Here are the official statutory holiday dates in Saskatchewan for 2024:
| Statutory Holiday | 2024 Date |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 (Monday) |
| Family Day | February 19 (Monday) |
| Good Friday | April 7 (Friday) |
| Victoria Day | May 22 (Monday) |
| Canada Day | July 3 (Monday) |
| Saskatchewan Day | August 7 (Monday) |
| Labour Day | September 4 (Monday) |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 9 (Monday) |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 (Saturday) |
| Christmas Day | December 25 (Monday) |
Please note that Easter Monday, Boxing Day (December 26) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) are not considered statutory holidays in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Employee Eligibility for Statutory Holiday Pay
Saskatchewan has broad eligibility requirements for statutory holiday pay. Per the Saskatchewan Employment Act, all full-time or part-time employees qualify for stat pay regardless of their length of tenure or how they are paid (hourly, salary, commission, etc).
There are no minimum service requirements for holiday pay eligibility. Even new employees who have worked less than four weeks leading up to the stat are entitled to pro-rated holiday pay based on wages earned to date.
The only exceptions are self-employed contractors, who are not considered employees under the legislation.
Calculating Pay for Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan
Determining the correct statutory holiday pay rate for each employee is crucial. Here are the standard calculation formulas Saskatchewan employers must follow:
Hourly or Salaried Employees
Most employees are entitled to 5% of their gross wages, excluding overtime but including vacation pay, earned in the four weeks immediately before the statutory holiday.
For example:
- Peter earned $2,000 in regular wages over the 4 weeks leading up to the holiday.
- He took 1 week of vacation during this period and received $500 of vacation pay.
- Earnings over 4 weeks = $2,000 regular wages + $500 vacation pay = $2,500
- Statutory holiday pay = $2,500 x 5% = $125
Construction Employees
For hourly employees in the construction industry, statutory holiday pay is calculated as 4% of gross wages, excluding overtime and vacation pay, earned in the calendar year leading up to the holiday.
For example:
- Lisa earned $15,000 in regular construction wages in the prior calendar year before the stat.
- Her statutory holiday pay would be $15,000 x 4% = $600
Construction employers must pay out accrued statutory holiday pay to eligible employees on or before December 31 of each year.
New Saskatchewan Employees
New employees who have worked fewer than four weeks before a statutory holiday are still entitled to pro-rated holiday pay.
For these employees, stat pay is calculated as 5% of the regular wages earned to date.
For example:
- Mark was hired 2 weeks before the start and has earned $500 in regular wages so far.
- His pro-rated statutory holiday pay would be $500 x 5% = $25
The only exception is if an employee’s termination date falls before the statutory holiday. In this case, they would not qualify for stat pay.
Read more: Minimum Wage in Saskatchewan
Premium Pay for Working on Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan
Employees required to work on a general holiday in Saskatchewan receive 1.5X their regular wage rate for all hours worked, in addition to their statutory holiday pay.
This premium pay equals the employee’s standard hourly wage multiplied by 1.5.
For example:
- Jane’s regular hourly wage is $20/hour
- She works 8 hours on the statutory holiday
- She earns 1.5 x $20 = $30/hour premium pay for each of those hours
- In total, Jane would receive 8 hours of premium pay at $30/hour ($240) plus her day’s statutory holiday pay
Employers cannot substitute another day off instead of paying the premium statutory holiday pay.
Overtime Pay on a Statutory Holiday
Employees who work overtime beyond their regular scheduled hours on the statutory holiday are entitled to both premium pay and overtime pay.
Overtime pay is calculated at 1.5X their regular hourly wage for any hours worked over 8 hours up to 12 hours and 2X their regular wage for any hours over 12 in a day.
Statutory Holiday Pay on Normal Days Off
Some employers are unsure of obligations when a statutory holiday falls on an employee’s regular day off.
In these cases, eligible employees must still receive their regular day’s statutory holiday pay, as outlined in the Saskatchewan Employment Standards Handbook. However, they would not qualify for any premium pay.
Read more: Vacation & Paid Time Off Policies in Canada
Substitute Holidays When Stat Falls on Weekend
Saskatchewan employers can substitute the next working day as the statutory holiday when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday:
- If the stat falls on a Saturday, the employer does not need to provide an alternate day off.
- If the stat falls on a Sunday and the business is normally closed, the following Monday will be the substitute holiday.
- If the business operates on Sundays, the Sunday is treated as a statutory holiday.
The one exception is Canada Day – if it falls on a Sunday, federal law requires it be observed on the following Monday.
When a substitute day is provided, eligible employees receive their regular statutory holiday pay but do not qualify for premium pay unless required to work that day.
Here is a summary of the substitute day rules:
| Statutory Holiday Falls On | Substitute Day |
| Saturday | None |
| Sunday (closed) | Next Monday |
| Sunday (open) | Same Sunday |
| Canada Day on Sunday | Next Monday |
Terminating an Employee Around a Statutory Holiday
Statutory holiday pay obligations do not disappear when an employment relationship ends. Here are important termination considerations:
Employee Terminated Before the Holiday
If an employee’s last day is before the statutory holiday, they are not entitled to stat pay.
Employee Terminated After the Holiday
If an employee is terminated after a statutory holiday, they must still receive pay for that holiday. Even if the termination falls in the 4 weeks used to calculate entitlement, the employee must receive stat pay.
Holiday During Termination Notice
When a termination notice overlaps with a statutory holiday, the employee remains eligible for stat pay and cannot be required to work the holiday without consent. If the employee agrees in writing to work the stat, they must receive premium pay.
Key Takeaways for Saskatchewan Employers
To summarize, these are some key takeaways for employers regarding Saskatchewan’s statutory holidays in 2024:
- All employees are entitled to take the 10 statutory holidays and receive holiday pay
- Regular statutory holiday pay is 5% of the prior 4 weeks’ gross wages or 4% of annual wages for the construction industry
- Premium pay of 1.5X regular wage applies for hours worked on the statutory holiday
- Statutory holiday pay must still be provided if the stat falls on a typical day off
- Substitute days are only allowed if the statutory holiday falls on a weekend
- Statutory holiday pay and time off cannot be forfeited if an employee is terminated around the holiday
Frequently Asked Questions about Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan
What are the statutory holidays in Saskatchewan in 2024?
The 10 statutory holidays in Saskatchewan for 2024 are:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Family Day (February 19)
Good Friday (April 7)
Victoria Day (May 22)
Canada Day (July 3)
Saskatchewan Day (August 7)
Labour Day (September 4)
Thanksgiving Day (October 9)
Remembrance Day (November 11)
Christmas Day (December 25)
How is statutory holiday pay calculated in Saskatchewan?
Regular statutory holiday pay is calculated as 5% of gross wages in the 4 weeks prior to the holiday. For construction industry employees paid hourly, it is 4% of gross wages in the calendar year prior.
Are all employees entitled to statutory holiday pay in Saskatchewan?
Yes, all employees are eligible for statutory holiday pay immediately after being hired, regardless of full/part-time status or how they are paid. The only exceptions are self-employed contractors.
What if a statutory holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday in Saskatchewan?
If the holiday falls on a Saturday, it is not moved. If it falls on a Sunday and the business is closed Sundays, it moves to the next Monday. If the business is open Sundays, the holiday remains on Sunday.
Is an employee entitled to statutory holiday pay if terminated in Saskatchewan?
Employees terminated before the holiday are not entitled to the stat pay. Employees terminated after the holiday must still receive stat pay, even if they were terminated in the 4-week calculation period.
Do employees get paid extra for working statutory holidays in Saskatchewan?
Yes, employees required to work on a statutory holiday must receive premium pay of 1.5 times their regular wage for all hours worked, in addition to the regular statutory holiday pay.
Do part-time employees receive statutory holiday pay in Saskatchewan?
Yes, part-time employees are entitled to statutory holiday pay on the same basis as full-time employees in Saskatchewan.
When do construction workers receive statutory holiday pay in Saskatchewan?
Construction employers must pay out accrued statutory holiday pay to eligible construction employees on or before December 31 each year, rather than on the holiday.
Does overtime need to be paid on a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan?
If employees work overtime on a statutory holiday, they must receive both premium pay (1.5x regular wage) as well as overtime pay for any hours over 8 in a day or 40 in a week.
Where can employers get more information on statutory holidays in Saskatchewan?
The best resources are Saskatchewan's Employment Standards Act and the Employment Standards Handbook available on the provincial government website. The Employment Standards Contact Centre can also answer questions.