Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island: 2024 Guide

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Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island: 2024 Guide

As a business owner or employee in Prince Edward Island, having a full working knowledge of statutory holiday entitlements, pay calculations, retail closures, and other related regulations is essential. This guide will provide a complete understanding for employers and employees within the province.

We’ll cover all key details—from qualification criteria, payment rates, and overtime vs. substitute days to additional leaves, vacation pay, termination notices, and rest breaks. Whether seeking guidance on eligibility, exclusions, weekend alignments, or general knowledge, this guide has you covered on statutory holidays in Prince Edward Island.

Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island 2024

Below, find the full schedule of 8 official statutory holidays alongside 5 optional general holidays for Prince Edward Island in 2024.

Official Statutory Holidays in PEI for 2024

Here are the 8 official paid statutory holiday dates that employees are entitled to have off work with pay in 2024:

Holiday	Date	Day
New Year’s Day	January 1	Monday
Islander Day	February 19	Monday
Good Friday	March 29	Friday
Canada Day	July 1	Monday
Labour Day	September 2	Monday
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation	September 30	Monday
Remembrance Day	November 11	Monday
Christmas Day	December 25	Wednesday

Optional General Holidays in PEI for 2024

In addition, there are 5 optional general holidays that employers can choose to recognize. If they elect to observe any of these non-mandated days, all statutory rules/pay requirements will then apply:

Holiday	Date	Day
Easter Monday	April 1	Monday
Victoria Day	May 20	Monday
Civic Holiday	August 5	Monday
Thanksgiving Day	October 14	Monday
Boxing Day	December 26	Thursday

While we have covered surrounding statutory holidays in Prince Edward Island, each Canadian province and territory has its own set of public holiday legislation. Some key provincial statutory holiday references:

• Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
• Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia
• Statutory Holidays in Quebec

Key Statutory Holiday Pay Eligibility Criteria in Prince Edward Island

For an employee to qualify for a paid statutory holiday day off in PEI​, the following three criteria must be met:

Length of Employment

Employees must work for the same organization for at least 30 calendar days leading up to the public holiday. For example – if calculating for Canada Day on July 1, they would need to have started on or before June 1.

Days Earned Wages in Prior 30 Days

In the 30 calendar days immediately before the statutory holiday, the employee must earn wages on at least 15 of those days. Eligible “earned wage” days can include:

• Regular workdays
• Prior statutory holidays
• Vacation days
• Bereavement or court leave days

Last Regular Shift Before and After

The employee must complete their last regularly scheduled shift right before the statutory holiday and first regular shift scheduled immediately after.

For example – if the stat holiday falls on a Monday, they must work the Sunday before and Tuesday after.

Exceptions are made if the employer requires them not to come in on either qualifying day. Weekend alignments also provide entitlement to a substitute day.

Let’s explore categories not qualifying for statutory holiday eligibility and pay.

Ineligible Employee Categories Under PEI Statutory Holiday Rules

There are two primary employee groups excluded from statutory holiday pay eligibility:

Commissioned Sales Employees

Employees earn the majority of their income through sales commissions rather than standard wages. However, the employer can still provide paid day off if desired.

Agricultural Farm Labourers

Those employed as farm labourers do not qualify. But again, the agricultural employer can elect to provide statutory holiday benefits if they wish.

So, in summary, commissioned salespersons and farm workers don’t automatically qualify for paid statutory holidays, but employers have full discretion in extending eligibility if they choose.

Calculation of Statutory Holiday Pay Entitlements

For qualified employees who are given the statutory holiday off, employers must provide regular day’s wages for that day, determined by either:

Standard Daily Hours and Earnings

If an employee earns the same fixed wages and works the same hours every day, this daily wage rate can be used to calculate statutory holiday pay.

Average Daily Wage in 30 Days Prior

For fluctuating hourly wages or irregular shifts, the employer can calculate an average daily wage earned over the 30 calendar days leading up to the public holiday as follows:

The sum of All Regular Wages Earned in Prior 30 Days

÷ Number of Days Worked in Prior 30 Days

Any overtime pay can be removed from the averaging calculation. Let’s walk through an example:

• Julie worked 22 of 30 days before the July 1 holiday
• She earned $1,485 in regular wages over those 22 days worked
• Her average daily wage would be:
  • Total Regular Wages = $1,485
  • Days Worked = 22
  • $1485 / 22 = $67.50 average per day
• So Julie receives $67.50 statutory holiday pay

Now that we’ve covered payment calculations for days off let’s examine the pay owed when working on statutory holidays.

Pay Entitlements for Working Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island

For qualified employees who work on a statutory holiday, PEI employers must provide either:

Premium Overtime Pay

• Regular statutory holiday pay
• Plus, overtime wages at 1.5x the regular rate for all hours worked during the public holiday

Substitute Paid Day Off

• Regular statutory holiday pay
• Plus, a substitute day off with pay before the next vacation

If choosing the second option, the date of the substitute day off must be agreed upon in advance by the employer and employee.

Let’s use a couple of examples to illustrate the alternatives:

• Amanda earns $15 per hour regular wage rate
• She works 8 hours on the July 1 Canada Day statutory holiday
• Her statutory holiday and overtime pay would be:
  • $67.50 statutory holiday pay
  • Plus 8 hours x 1.5 x $15/hour overtime = $210
  • Total Pay = $277.50

Or

• Amanda gets $67.50 statutory holiday pay
• Plus, a mutually agreed upon substitute paid day off before the next vacation

So, as demonstrated, there are two options for employers when employees work on statutory holidays – either overtime premium or future substitute day.

Substitute Days Off for Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island

If an employee qualifies for the paid holiday but is not scheduled to work, employers can provide either:

• A regular day’s statutory holiday pay
• Or a substitute day off with pay before their next vacation

Similarly, any statutory holidays that land on non-work days like weekends provide entitlement to a substitute day off with pay.

Additional Leaves, Breaks and Benefits Alongside Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island

On top of statutory holiday entitlements, a few other employment standards-related regulations must be followed in PEI:

Minimum Wage

PEI’s minimum hourly wage is currently $15.00 per hour for standard work weeks.

Vacation Pay

Vacation pay entitlements are 4% of an employee’s gross insurable earnings, rising to 6% after 8 consecutive years with the same employer.

Read more: Vacation & Paid Time Off Policies in Canada

Leaves of Absence

Employers must also provide various job-protected leaves of absence for personal sickness, family care, bereavement, pregnancy/parental leave, etc.

Rest and Meal Breaks

Employers must give one uninterrupted 30-minute unpaid break for every 5 consecutive hours worked. If duties prevent taking the full break, it becomes paid time.

Termination Notice Periods

Minimum termination notice period requirements depend on years of service, with relevant exceptions factored in.

So, in summary – alongside managing statutory holidays, PEI employers must be aware of and aligned with minimum wage rates, vacation pay accruals, protected leaves, mandated breaks, termination notices and other employment standards.

Key Takeaways on Prince Edward Island Statutory Holidays

• 8 official and 5 optional public holidays in 2024
• Must meet eligibility rules for paid day off
• Ineligible groups can still be included
• Regular wage rates paid for days off
• Overtime or substitute day when working
• Substitutions for weekends or non-work days
• Extra employment standards like leaves, breaks and vacation pay

FAQs on Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island

Article Sources

• List of Statutory Holidays in P.E.I. in 2024 – stlawyers.ca
• Paid Holidays – princeedwardisland.ca
• Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island: A General Guide – stlawyers.ca
• Understanding PEI’s Employment Standards – cfib-fcei.ca

Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island: 2024 Guide
Ben Nguyen