Statutory Holidays in Alberta 2025: Dates and Pay Rules

Statutory holidays are designated paid days off work, during which employees are entitled to take the day off and still receive regular wages. In this guide, we will examine all aspects of statutory holidays in Alberta.

What Are the Statutory Holidays in Alberta for 2025?

Alberta has 9 statutory holidays that all provincially-regulated employers must provide to eligible staff. There are also 4 optional general holidays that employers can choose to offer their employees, which are Easter Monday, Heritage Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Boxing Day.

While employers are not required to recognize these four optional days, all standard statutory holiday pay rules and entitlements apply if they choose to offer them.

Here’s a complete list of Alberta statutory holiday dates to help you plan your year.

Who Is Eligible for Alberta Stat Holidays?

To qualify for statutory holiday entitlements in Alberta, employees must meet the following criteria:

• Worked for the same employer for at least 30 work days in the 12 months prior to the holiday. This prerequisite is referred to as the ’30-day rule’.
• Normally, on a day they would have worked (if the holiday falls on a regular work day).
• Has not failed to show up for work on the holiday after being scheduled.
• They have not missed their last scheduled shift before/after the holiday without consent.

These rules apply equally to full-time, part-time, and casual employees. The 30-day rule is key for employers to consider when determining eligibility.

Employees would not qualify for stat pay if they:

• Have worked for the company for fewer than 30 days.
• Do not normally work on the day the holiday falls.
• Miss their last shift before/after the holiday without the employer’s permission.

Also, five categories of workers are excluded from statutory holiday pay altogether. These include:

• Automobile and recreational vehicle salespersons
• Licensed investment and insurance salespersons are paid by commission
• Real estate salespersons
• Film/video production extras
• Non-profit camp counsellors

Because of these rules and exceptions, carefully tracking employee hours and days worked is crucial for administering statutory holiday pay. Failing to verify eligibility based on the 30-day rule is one of employers’ most common errors.

How Do You Determine Regular Work Days in Alberta?

A key factor for statutory holiday eligibility in Alberta is whether the holiday falls on a regular day of work.

For employees with standard weekday schedules, their regular work days are the days they usually work each week.

For those with irregular schedules, most regions use the ‘5 in 9 rule’ to determine regular work days. This means a day is considered a regular workday if the employee worked that same day at least 5 times in the 9 weeks before the holiday.

So if the holiday falls on a Wednesday, and the employee worked 5+ Wednesdays in the previous 9 weeks, Wednesday would be a regular work day for them.

While regulations vary slightly between provinces, this 5 in 9 rule is commonly used across Canada to define regular work days.

How Is Stat Holiday Pay Calculated in Alberta?

Employers must provide different statutory holiday pay depending on whether employees work on the holiday and whether it falls on a regular workday.

If Employees Do Not Work the Holiday

Employees who do not work on a statutory holiday that falls on a regular work day are entitled to their average daily wage.

The average daily wage is calculated as the total wages earned in the four weeks preceding the holiday divided by the number of days worked. Overtime pay is not included in these calculations.

Average daily wage calculation example:

• Peter earned $1,600 in regular wages over 20 days worked in the previous 4 weeks
• His average daily wage is $1,600 / 20 days = $80

So, Peter would receive $80 for the day off.

If the holiday falls on a non-regular work day and employees do not work, they are not entitled to statutory holiday pay.

If Employees Work on the Holiday

If employees work on a statutory holiday that falls on a regular work day, they are entitled to statutory holiday pay calculated as:

• 1.5 times their hourly wage for all hours worked
• Plus, their average salary per day

Alternatively, employers can choose to pay the employee:

• Their regular wage rate for hours worked on the holiday
• Plus, a substitute day off with pay in the future at their average daily wage rate

Premium pay calculation example:

Jane’s hourly wage is $20, and her average daily wage is $160. She worked 8 hours on the statutory holiday.
Thus, Jane would earn $400 for total statutory holiday pay (1.5 x $20 x 8 + $160)

If employees work on a statutory holiday that falls on a non-regular work day, they are entitled to 1.5 times their regular hourly wage for all hours worked as premium pay. They do not additionally receive their average daily wage.

Source: Employment standards – Alberta general holidays – alberta.ca

Managing Substitute Days Off in Alberta

If an employee takes a substitute day off instead of a statutory holiday worked, general holiday pay rules apply on that substitute day.

If the employment ends before the substitute day is taken, the owed pay depends on who ended the employment:

• If the employer terminates the employee, they must pay the employee their average daily wage plus 1.5 times their wage rate for all hours worked on the holiday.
• If the employee quits, they are owed their average daily wage for each substitute day not taken.

Holiday Rules for Salaried, Part-Time, and Dismissed Employees in Alberta

Holiday rules for salaried, part-time, and dismissed employees can be confusing. Here’s a simple guide to how they work in Alberta.

Salaried Employees

Salaried employees typically receive their regular salary for statutory holidays on regular work days.

If they work on the holiday, they should also receive their average daily wage or a substitute day off at their average salaries in Alberta.

Part-Time Employees

Part-time employees are also eligible for statutory holiday pay in Alberta if they meet the minimum 30-day employment requirement.

Like full-time employees, part-time employees’ pay calculations are based on their average daily wage, which takes into account part-time hours.

Dismissed Employees

Employees who are terminated with or without cause are still owed any statutory holiday pay and entitlements they accrued up to the termination date. If applicable, this must be included in their final pay, along with any severance pay.

The bottom line

Alberta has 9 statutory holidays and 4 optional general holidays. By understanding statutory holiday guidelines, employers across Canada can ensure proper compliance and employee benefits, while employees can better comprehend their entitlements.

Each Canadian province and territory has its own set of public holiday legislation. Find out more at:

• Statutory Holidays in Northwest Territories
• Statutory Holidays in Yukon
• Statutory Holidays in Nunavut
• Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia
• Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
• Statutory Holidays in Manitoba
• Statutory Holidays in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Statutory Holidays in Quebec
• Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan

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