Ontario Esa Public Holiday Pay Calculation
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Reviewed by Calculator Editorial Team
Under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) in Ontario, employers must pay employees for public holidays. This calculator helps you determine the correct holiday pay for employees based on their regular wages and hours worked.
How to Calculate Ontario ESA Public Holiday Pay
The Ontario ESA requires employers to pay employees their regular wages for any public holiday that falls on a day they would normally work. The calculation involves determining the employee's regular hourly rate and multiplying it by the number of hours they would normally work on that day.
Steps to Calculate Holiday Pay
- Determine the employee's regular hourly wage
- Identify the number of hours the employee would normally work on the holiday
- Multiply the hourly wage by the number of hours to get the holiday pay amount
Key Considerations
- Public holidays include Christmas Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day
- Employees must be paid their regular wages, not overtime, for holiday pay
- If an employee normally works a different number of hours on a holiday, use that specific number
Important Note
Employers must ensure they are paying holiday pay correctly to comply with Ontario's Employment Standards Act. Failure to do so can result in penalties and legal action.
Formula Used
The calculation for Ontario ESA public holiday pay is straightforward:
Where:
- Regular Hourly Wage = Employee's normal hourly pay rate
- Number of Hours Worked on Holiday = Standard hours the employee works on a typical workday
For example, if an employee earns $20 per hour and normally works 8 hours on a Friday, their holiday pay for a public holiday that falls on a Friday would be $160.
Worked Example
Let's walk through a complete example to illustrate how to calculate Ontario ESA public holiday pay.
Scenario
Jane works as a receptionist at a law firm. She earns $22 per hour and normally works 7 hours on a Tuesday. A public holiday falls on a Tuesday this year.
Calculation Steps
- Determine Jane's regular hourly wage: $22/hour
- Identify the number of hours she normally works on a Tuesday: 7 hours
- Calculate holiday pay: $22 × 7 = $154
Therefore, Jane should be paid $154 for the public holiday that falls on her normal workday.
Verification
To verify this calculation, you can use our calculator in the sidebar with Jane's details. The result should match the manual calculation of $154.
FAQ
What public holidays are covered by the Ontario ESA?
The Ontario ESA covers several public holidays including Christmas Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day.
Do I have to pay holiday pay if the employee doesn't work on the holiday?
No, you only need to pay holiday pay if the employee would normally work on that day. If they are scheduled off or have the day off, you do not need to pay holiday pay.
What if an employee works different hours on a holiday?
You should use the number of hours the employee would normally work on that day. For example, if an employee normally works 4 hours on a Friday but works 8 hours on a holiday Friday, you should pay for 4 hours.
Can I pay holiday pay in cash?
No, holiday pay must be paid in the same form as the employee's regular wages. This typically means direct deposit or cheque.