How to use the stat holiday pay calculator
- 1 Enter your regular wages earned in the four work weeks before the holiday.
- 2 Enter any vacation pay paid in that time.
- 3 Choose whether you worked on the holiday.
- 4 Read your public holiday pay.
Worked example
Regular wages of $3,200 in the four work weeks before the holiday and no vacation pay. Public holiday pay is $3,200 ÷ 20 = $160, paid even though you have the day off. If you also worked that day, you would add premium pay of one and a half times your regular rate for every hour you worked.
Ontario's public holidays
- Nine holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- Not on the list: the August Civic Holiday, Easter Monday and Remembrance Day are not ESA public holidays, although many employers give them.
- Weekend holidays: if a holiday falls on a day you would not normally work, you get another day off with holiday pay or pay in lieu.
- Retail workers generally have the right to refuse work on a public holiday.
Add your regular vacation pay with the Vacation Pay Calculator, and overtime with the Overtime Calculator.
Features
ESA formula
Wages plus vacation pay in the four weeks before, divided by 20.
Working the holiday
Premium pay at 1.5 times for hours worked.
Part-time friendly
Works for any schedule.
When to use it
Pay checks
Check holiday pay on your stub. Add vacation pay with the Vacation Pay Calculator.
Part-time work
Work out holiday pay with irregular hours. Add overtime with the Overtime Calculator.
Employers
Calculate public holiday pay correctly. Convert rates with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Holiday shifts
Decide whether to work a holiday. Leaving? See the Severance Pay Calculator.
Related Pay and Salary tasks
Frequently asked questions
What are Ontario's public holidays?
New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
How is holiday pay calculated?
Regular wages earned in the four work weeks before the holiday, plus vacation pay payable in that period, divided by 20.
What if I work on the holiday?
You get holiday pay plus premium pay of 1.5 times your rate for the hours worked, or regular pay plus a substitute day off with holiday pay.
Do part-time workers get holiday pay?
Yes. The formula works for any schedule.
Is Remembrance Day a holiday in Ontario?
No, not under the ESA.
Is the Civic Holiday in August a public holiday?
No. Many employers give it, but it is not a public holiday under the ESA.
What if the holiday falls on my day off?
You still get public holiday pay, or your employer can give you a substitute day off with holiday pay.
Do new employees qualify?
In Ontario there is no minimum service to qualify, but you must work your full scheduled day before and after the holiday unless you have a reasonable cause.
What if I am on vacation during a holiday?
You get the holiday as a paid day off and your vacation is extended by a day, or you get a substitute day.
Do other provinces use the same formula?
No. Each province has its own method, so this calculator is for Ontario employees.
Is holiday pay taxable?
Yes. It is taxed like any other wages and is subject to CPP and EI.
What if I started less than four weeks ago?
The calculation uses the wages you actually earned in the weeks before the holiday, still divided by 20, so new employees may receive a smaller amount.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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