Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia: 2025 Guide

Statutory holidays give Nova Scotia employees necessary paid time off each year. However, the rules and entitlements surrounding these stat holidays in Canada can be complex for employees and employers.

This extensive guide will explore everything you need about statutory holidays in Nova Scotia for 2024 and beyond.

Understanding Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia

Let’s start by looking at statutory holidays and how they are established in Nova Scotia.

What Are Statutory Holidays?

Statutory holidays, also known as public or general holidays, are government-legislated days of rest that provide employees with a paid day off.

These statutory holidays are established by law at the provincial or federal level. Most employees are entitled to take the day off with pay, and employers must comply with the statutory holiday legislation.

Nova Scotia has six statutory holidays each calendar year as outlined in the Labour Standards Code:

• New Year’s Day
• Heritage Day
• Good Friday
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• Christmas Day

These are the only statutory holidays in the province. Other standard days, like Victoria Day or Thanksgiving, are not considered official paid statutory holidays in Nova Scotia. However, employers can choose to provide them optionally.

Other Common Holidays and Days Off

While not statutory holidays, some other standard days off in Nova Scotia include:

• Easter Monday
• Victoria Day
• Natal Day
• Thanksgiving
• Remembrance Day
• Boxing Day

Employers may optionally provide these extra holidays. Some sectors, like education, may regularly schedule days off on these dates.

The Importance of Statutory Holidays

Statutory holidays provide several benefits and protections for employees and society:

• Paid time off without using vacation allotments
• Guaranteed long weekends and extended holiday periods
• Higher pay for employees required to work
• Shared days of cultural, historical and religious meaning
• Positive impacts on work-life balance and mental health
• Increased leisure time for family and community engagement
• Boosted sales revenues for businesses in sectors like hospitality and retail

Canadians deeply value their statutory holidays. For full-time employees, statutory holidays in Canada provide the equivalent of an additional 2 weeks off work each year.

Read more: Vacation & Paid Time Off Policies in Canada

How Do Statutory Holiday Pay Entitlements Work?

The Labour Standards Code establishes specific eligibility rules and pay entitlements for statutory holidays.

Employee Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for statutory holidays, employees must:

• Have completed 90 calendar days of employment
• Have worked at least 15 of the 30 calendar days prior to the holiday
• Work their scheduled shift before and after the holiday

This applies equally to full-time, part-time, permanent and temporary employees.

Statutory Holiday Pay Calculations

If an eligible employee is given the statutory holiday off, they must receive:

• Regular day’s pay

If an eligible employee works on the holiday, they must receive:

• Regular day’s pay
• 1.5x their regular wage for all hours worked on the holiday

For example, an employee earning $20/hour who works 8 hours would get:

• 8 hours regular pay at $20/hour = $160
• 8 hours of 1.5x premium pay at 1.5 x $20 = $240
• Total statutory holiday pay = $160 + $240 = $400

Stat pay is calculated as an average of daily wages in the prior 20 working days before the holiday.

Read more: Minimum Wage in Nova Scotia

Restrictions on Statutory Holiday Work

Employers can require employees to work statutory holidays if needed. However, restrictions include:

• Retail employees can refuse to work certain holiday closing days.
• Public sector collective agreements may outline holiday work rules.
• Remembrance Day has special rules prohibiting operations for some businesses.

Employer Policies for Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia employers are advised to develop a comprehensive statutory holiday policy and communicate it to employees through an employee handbook.

This policy should outline:

• Dates of statutory holidays
• Eligibility rules
• Pay calculations
• Substitute days
• How shifts are rescheduled
• Overtime pay, if applicable
• Probation period holiday entitlements

Having clear statutory holiday policies is crucial for legal compliance and preventing labour disputes.

Here is a list of statutory holidays in 2024 along with the policy:

Holiday	2024 Date	Eligibility	Pay Entitlement
New Year’s Day	January 1st	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Heritage Day	February 19th	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Good Friday	March 29th	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Canada Day	July 1st	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Labour day	September 2nd	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Christmas Day	December 25th	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages

Similar, here is a list of statutory holidays in 2025 along with the policy:

Holiday	2025 Date	Eligibility	Pay Entitlement
New Year’s Day	January 1st	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Heritage Day	February 17th	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Good Friday	April 18th	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Canada Day	July 1st	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Labour day	September 1st	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages
Christmas Day	December 25th	90 days and 15 of prior 30 days worked	Regular daily wages

Statutory Holiday Best Practices for Employers

Here are some additional statutory holiday best practices for employers:

• Track employee hours accurately for holiday pay calculations.
• Post statutory holiday notices onsite and communicate dates.
• Clarify policies on trading shifts or refusals to work.
• Set critical holiday staffing and scheduling well in advance.
• Plan seasonal peaks, remote work flexibility, and contingency coverage.
• Adjust targets and performance metrics when holidays impact productivity.
• Provide inclusive celebrations for diverse cultures and religions.
• Get employee input on preferred substitute days when holidays fall on weekends.
• Allow scheduled vacation and lieu days on either side of holidays for long weekends.

Employee Perspective on Nova Scotia Statutory Holidays

From an employee standpoint, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Verify your statutory holiday eligibility criteria are met.
• Review your employer’s holiday policies in your contract or handbook.
• Ensure you receive proper holiday pay, including 1.5x premiums if you work.
• Speak up if you feel unfairly pressured to work a closing day holiday.
• Request substituted days well in advance when holidays coincide with your schedule.
• Save some vacation days by extending long weekends around statutory holidays.
• Get clarification from your employer or union on grey areas like overtime and lieu days.
• Keep evidence if you ever need to dispute improper statutory holiday compensation.
• Take time to relax and celebrate during these guaranteed days off.

Key Takeaways on Nova Scotia Statutory Holidays

• There are 6 statutory holidays plus other standard days like Remembrance Day.
• Eligibility requires 90 days of employment and 15 days worked before the holiday.
• Pay equals average daily wages plus 1.5x premium pay for hours worked.
• Retail employees can refuse to work some closing day holidays.
• Employers should have clear statutory holiday policies.
• Remembrance Day has unique rules under the Remembrance Day Act.
• Non-stat holidays do not have pay requirements but can be provided optionally.
• Holiday dates change annually – be sure to check calendars.
• Both employers and employees should understand statutory holiday rights and responsibilities.

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

• Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
• Statutory Holidays in Quebec
• Statutory Holidays in Manitoba
• Statutory Holidays in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Statutory Holidays in Ontario
• Statutory Holidays in Saskatchewan
• Statutory Holidays in Alberta
• Statutory Holidays in Nunavut
• Statutory Holidays in Yukon

FAQs related to Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia

Article Sources

• Stat Holidays Nova Scotia 2024: The Complete List – peninsulagrouplimited.com
• Nova Scotia Stat Holidays for the Next Year: 2023-2024 NS Stat Holidays – datos.org
• Vacation Pay and Holiday Pay in Nova Scotia: What are Your Workplace Rights? – terylscott.ca
• Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia – stlawyers.ca