How to Calculate Public Holiday Pay Ontario

Calculating public holiday pay in Ontario requires understanding both the legal requirements and your specific employment circumstances. This guide explains the calculation process, provides a calculator tool, and answers common questions about public holiday pay in Ontario.

What is Public Holiday Pay?

Public holiday pay refers to the additional compensation employees receive for working on a legal holiday in Ontario. Under the Employment Standards Act, 2000, employees are entitled to at least the same pay as their regular pay for the day for which they are required to work on a public holiday.

This includes:

Time-and-a-half pay for overtime worked on a public holiday
Double time pay for overtime worked on a public holiday after 8 hours of work
Premium pay for working on a public holiday if required to do so

Note: The Ontario government may declare certain days as public holidays, and employers must provide notice to employees.

How to Calculate Public Holiday Pay

The calculation of public holiday pay depends on several factors:

Your regular hourly wage
Whether you worked overtime on the holiday
The number of hours worked on the holiday
Whether you were required to work on the holiday

Basic Public Holiday Pay Formula:

Public Holiday Pay = (Regular Hourly Wage × 1.5) × Hours Worked on Holiday

If you worked overtime after 8 hours: Public Holiday Pay = (Regular Hourly Wage × 2) × Overtime Hours

For employees required to work on a public holiday, the employer must pay at least the same amount as the employee's regular pay for the day.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Determine Your Regular Hourly Wage

Calculate your regular hourly wage by dividing your regular weekly pay by the number of hours you typically work in a week.

Step 2: Identify Public Holiday Hours

Track the number of hours you worked on the public holiday. If you worked overtime, note how many hours were regular and how many were overtime.

Step 3: Apply the Public Holiday Rate

Multiply your regular hourly wage by 1.5 for all hours worked on the public holiday. For overtime hours (after 8 hours of work), multiply by 2.

Step 4: Calculate Total Public Holiday Pay

Add up the pay for regular holiday hours and overtime holiday hours to get your total public holiday pay.

Remember: If you were required to work on a public holiday, your employer must pay you at least your regular pay for the day.

Example Calculation

Let's say you earn $20 per hour and worked 10 hours on a public holiday, including 2 hours of overtime.

Regular holiday hours: 8 hours × $20 × 1.5 = $240
Overtime holiday hours: 2 hours × $20 × 2 = $80
Total public holiday pay: $240 + $80 = $320

Example Result

For this scenario, your total public holiday pay would be $320.

FAQ

Do I get paid for public holidays I don't work?

No, you only receive public holiday pay if you work on a public holiday. If you are not scheduled to work, you do not receive payment for the holiday.

What if my employer doesn't pay me for a public holiday?

If your employer fails to pay you for a public holiday you worked, you may have a claim under the Employment Standards Act. Contact the Ministry of Labour for assistance.

Are public holidays the same as statutory holidays?

Public holidays are declared by the government, while statutory holidays are guaranteed by law (e.g., Victoria Day). Both may qualify for public holiday pay.

Do part-time employees get public holiday pay?

Yes, part-time employees are entitled to public holiday pay if they work on a public holiday, following the same calculation rules as full-time employees.