Public Holiday Pay Calculation Ontario

Public holiday pay in Ontario is a legal requirement for most employees. This calculator helps you determine the correct holiday pay entitlements based on your employment status, hours worked, and the specific public holiday.

How to Calculate Public Holiday Pay in Ontario

In Ontario, employers must pay their employees for public holidays if the employee would normally be working on that day. The calculation involves determining the employee's regular pay rate and applying it to the hours they would have worked on the holiday.

Steps to Calculate Holiday Pay

Determine if the employee is entitled to holiday pay (most employees are, except for certain exemptions).
Identify the employee's regular pay rate (hourly or salary).
Calculate the number of hours the employee would have worked on the holiday day.
Multiply the regular pay rate by the number of hours to get the holiday pay amount.

Note: Some employees may be exempt from holiday pay if they are covered by a collective agreement or if they are in certain exempt categories under the Employment Standards Act, 2000.

Formula for Holiday Pay Calculation

The basic formula for calculating public holiday pay is:

Holiday Pay = Regular Pay Rate × Number of Hours Worked on Holiday

For salaried employees, the calculation is typically based on the employee's regular hourly rate or a prorated amount based on the number of hours they would have worked on the holiday.

Example Calculation

If an employee earns $20 per hour and would have worked 8 hours on a public holiday, their holiday pay would be:

Holiday Pay = $20/hour × 8 hours = $160

Exemptions and Special Cases

Not all employees are entitled to public holiday pay. The following groups are typically exempt:

Employees covered by a collective agreement that provides for holiday pay
Employees in certain exempt categories under the Employment Standards Act, 2000
Employees who are not scheduled to work on the public holiday

Employers must ensure they are complying with all applicable laws and regulations regarding public holiday pay.

Worked Examples

Let's look at a couple of examples to illustrate how holiday pay is calculated.

Example 1: Hourly Employee

An hourly employee earns $18 per hour and would have worked 8 hours on a public holiday. Their holiday pay would be:

Holiday Pay = $18/hour × 8 hours = $144

Example 2: Salaried Employee

A salaried employee earns $40,000 per year and would have worked 8 hours on a public holiday. Assuming they work 40 hours per week, their regular hourly rate is:

Regular Hourly Rate = $40,000 ÷ (40 hours/week × 52 weeks) = $15/hour

Therefore, their holiday pay would be:

Holiday Pay = $15/hour × 8 hours = $120

Frequently Asked Questions

What is public holiday pay in Ontario?

Public holiday pay is the payment an employer must provide to an employee on a public holiday if the employee would normally be working on that day. The amount is typically calculated based on the employee's regular pay rate and the number of hours they would have worked.

Who is entitled to public holiday pay in Ontario?

Most employees are entitled to public holiday pay, except for those covered by a collective agreement that provides for holiday pay or those in certain exempt categories under the Employment Standards Act, 2000.

How is public holiday pay calculated for salaried employees?

For salaried employees, public holiday pay is typically calculated based on the employee's regular hourly rate or a prorated amount based on the number of hours they would have worked on the holiday.

What happens if an employer does not pay public holiday pay?

If an employer fails to pay public holiday pay, the employee may be entitled to claim the unpaid amount as wages. It's important for employers to ensure they are complying with all applicable laws and regulations regarding public holiday pay.

Are there any exceptions to public holiday pay requirements?

Yes, there are exceptions to public holiday pay requirements. Employees covered by a collective agreement that provides for holiday pay or those in certain exempt categories under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 may not be entitled to public holiday pay.