If a non-exempt employee works on a statutory/public holiday, they are entitled to premium compensation in addition to their regular holiday pay.
Because statutory holidays vary by province (Canada) - and by state (USA) and by jurisdiction, it is important for clients to confirm which specific dates qualify as public holidays to ensure accurate payroll planning and avoid unexpected costs.
Canada
In Canada, when a non-exempt employee works on a statutory holiday, they are generally entitled to:
✅ Holiday pay (typically calculated as an average day’s wage based on earnings over a prior reference period, often the last 30 days), plus
✅ 1.5x (time and a half) their regular wage for all hours worked on that holiday.
This effectively results in a combined premium of approximately 2.5x the regular rate for hours worked on a statutory holiday.
United States
In the U.S., non-exempt employees who are required to work on a holiday are typically paid:
✅ 1.5x (time-and-a-half) their regular rate for hours worked.
Unlike Canada, there is generally no statutory requirement for additional standalone holiday pay unless specified by state law or employer policy.