Premium pay, average pay and substitute days
Working on a Statutory Holiday vs Taking the Day Off
Understand the common outcomes when an eligible employee works a holiday, takes it off or receives a substitute day.
Key point
Holiday pay is often made of separate components. A day-off amount, pay for hours actually worked, a premium multiplier and a future substitute day should be identified separately.
- Determine whether the holiday is a regular workday.
- Confirm eligibility and any absence rule before calculating.
- Document the employer-selected or agreed worked-holiday option.
When the employee does not work
A qualifying employee may receive an average or statutory day’s pay. The formula and whether a non-regular day qualifies depend on the jurisdiction.
When the employee works
Common structures include premium pay plus a holiday amount, or regular pay plus a future paid day off. BC applies time-and-a-half for the first 12 holiday hours and double time after 12 for a qualifying employee; Alberta’s result changes with the regular-day test.
Substitute days
Keep the written agreement when required, the original holiday date, the substitute date and the pay attached to that day. If employment ends first, check the payout rule.
Related WageWise resources
Official sources
Rules can change and special occupations, agreements or facts can alter the result. Confirm the current official rule for the jurisdiction where the work is performed.