Statutory Holidays in Alberta: 2025 Guide

Statutory holidays are designated paid days off work, during which employees are entitled to take the day off and still receive regular wages. Alberta has nine statutory holiday dates that employers must recognize each year. Understanding statutory holidays in Canada is crucial for employers to avoid penalties and properly compensate staff.

This extensive guide examines all aspects of statutory holidays in Alberta for 2025. It covers eligibility criteria, pay calculation formulas, premium pay rules, and more. Whether you are an employer looking for statutory holiday compliance guidance or an employee wanting to understand your public holiday rights, this definitive guide has everything you need to know.

Official Alberta Statutory Holiday Dates in 2025

Alberta has 9 statutory holidays that all provincially-regulated employers must provide to eligible staff and 4 optional general holidays that employers can choose to offer their employees:

• Easter Monday
• Heritage Day
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• 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 guide to Alberta statutory holiday dates to help you plan your year.

Holiday	2025 Date
New Year’s Day	Wednesday, January 1
Family Day	Monday, February 17
Good Friday	Friday, April 18
Victoria Day	Monday, May 19
Canada Day	Tuesday, July 1
Labour Day	Monday, September 1
Thanksgiving Day	Monday, October 13
Remembrance Day	Tuesday, November 11
Christmas Day	Thursday, December 25
Easter Monday	Monday, April 21
Heritage Day	Monday, August 4
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation	Tuesday, September 30
Boxing Day	Thursday, December 26

Who Is Eligible for Statutory Holidays in Alberta?

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 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.

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.

Criteria	Federal	Alberta	Most Provinces
Minimum Employment	30 days	30 days	30 days
Regular work day	✅	✅	✅
Work holiday on non-regular days	✅	✅	✅
Unauthorized absences	❌	❌	❌

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

Determining Regular Work Days in Alberta

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

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.

Schedule Type	Regular Work Day Determination
Regular Schedule	Normal work days each week
Irregular schedule	Worked same day ≥5 times in previous 9 weeks

Pay Calculations for Statutory Holidays in Alberta

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

If Employees Do Not Work the Holiday

Employees who have the day off on a statutory holiday that falls on a regular work day are entitled to their average daily wage as statutory holiday pay.

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 as statutory holiday pay 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 wage in Alberta 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
• She worked 8 hours on the statutory holiday
• Her average daily wage is $160

Jane would earn:

• 1.5 x $20 x 8 hours worked = $240
• Plus $160 (average daily wage)

For total statutory holiday pay of $400

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: Alberta General Holidays| What to Pay Your Employees – pushoperations.com

Managing Substitute Days Off in Alberta

If an employee takes a substitute day off in lieu 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 the employee’s 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.

Employment Ended By	Owed Payment
Employer	Average daily wage + 1.5x hourly wage x hours worked holiday
Employee	Average daily wage per substitute day not taken

Holiday Rules for Salaried, Part-Time, 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 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.

While we have covered surrounding statutory holidays in Alberta, each Canadian province and territory has its own set of public holiday legislation. Some key provincial statutory holiday references:

• Statutory Holidays in Northwest Territories
• Statutory Holidays in Yukon
• Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island
• Statutory Holidays in Nunavut
• Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia
• Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
• Statutory Holidays in Manitoba
• Statutory Holidays in Quebec

Key Takeaways for Statutory Holidays in Alberta

• 5 statutory holidays are recognized nationally, while others vary between provinces
• Alberta has 9 statutory holidays and 4 optional general holidays
• Most regions require a minimum of 30 days of employment to establish eligibility
• The 5 in 9 rule commonly determines regular workdays
• Formulas for holiday pay differ across Canada depending on circumstances
• Substitute days off are allowed in some provinces if an employee works on a statutory holiday
• Salaried, part-time and dismissed employees maintain public holiday rights

By understanding statutory holiday guidelines, employers across Canada can ensure proper compliance and employee benefits in Canada while employees can better comprehend their entitlements.

FAQs related to Statutory Holidays in Alberta

Article Source

• Alberta Stat Holidays: The Complete List – peninsulagrouplimited.com