Statutory Holidays in British Columbia 2023 – An Employer’s Guide
As a business owner, it is essential to understand the statutory holiday entitlement and how to pay your employees correctly. Failing to do so could result in significant penalties or fines. Having a stat holiday policy in place is key to ensure public holiday pay is managed correctly.
In this blog, employers will gain an insight into British Columbia’s statutory holidays for 2023, as well as learning about the proper calculation of statutory holiday pay.
Statutory holidays are a type of leave or days off from work that have been granted by the government based on certain conditions and criteria. In British Columbia, there are 11 official statutory holidays – if any of these holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday then they are observed on the following Monday instead.
- New Year’s Day – January 1, 2023
- Family Day – February 20, 2023
- Good Friday – April 7, 2023
- Victoria Day – May 22, 2023
- Canada Day – July 1, 2023
- British Columbia Day – August 7, 2023
- Labour Day – September 4, 2023
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – October 2, 2023
- Thanksgiving – October 9, 2023
- Remembrance Day – November 10, 2023
- Christmas – December 25, 2023
Do I Have to Pay My Employees For Statutory Holidays?
Generally speaking, yes. You must pay your employees an amount equal to at least an average day’s pay on statutory holidays. This must be paid whether or not the statutory holiday falls on your employees’ regularly scheduled day off. However, in order to qualify for statutory holiday pay, your employee must have:
- worked or earned wages for 15 of the 30 calendar days preceding the statutory holiday, or
- worked under an averaging agreement at any time within that 30 calendar day period
Your employee must also have been employed for at least 30 calendar days in order to qualify for a statutory holiday.
For all the details, see the Government of BC’s Employment Standards Act and Regulation
Get professional advice on stat holiday pay with Magenta HR
If you’re unsure about how to handle your employees’ statutory holiday, Magenta HR can help. We’ll work with you to calculate the appropriate pay, based on employment details.
How is Stat Pay Calculated in BC?
Statutory holiday pay is calculated by taking the total amount of wages earned in the 30-day period leading up to the statutory holiday and dividing it by the number of days worked during that same period, including vacation days. This results in an average day’s pay that is used as an employee’s statutory holiday pay rate.
Stat holiday pay = Total wages ÷ number of days worked in the 30 day period leading up to the holiday
As such, employers must ensure their calculations for statutory holiday pay are based on the wages earned during the last thirty days prior to the designated statutory holiday – including any vacation time taken. It should be noted, however, this does not mean that those who take vacation on a statutory holiday will receive double payment for that day; rather, their vacation day will be factored into their calculated average daily wage for purposes of determining their entitlement to statutory holiday pay.
Managing stat holiday entitlements in BC
Though understanding how to manage statutory holiday entitlements and pay for your employees may seem daunting at first glance; having a solid stat holiday policy in place can help ease some stress when it comes time to complete payroll duties throughout the year – ensuring both employers and staff alike remain compliant with British Columbia’s labor laws. Our experts at Magenta HR are available to advise you on developing a stat holiday pay and entitlement policy customized to fit your company needs.