In Canada’s majestic northwest, Yukon is renowned for its rugged natural beauty and vibrant cultural heritage. However, when it comes to statutory holidays in Canada, the territory’s regulations contain intricacies that can be challenging for employers and employees.
From key dates to eligibility rules, pay calculations, and leave interactions, this guide details everything employers and employees need to know about statutory holidays in Yukon 2025.
List of Yukon Statutory Holidays 2025
The Yukon Territory observes twelve statutory holidays annually, providing employees with paid time off to celebrate significant cultural and civic occasions. Below is a complete list of statutory holidays for 2025:
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year’s Day | January 1, Wednesday |
| Good Friday | April 18, Friday |
| Victoria Day | May 19, Monday |
| National Indigenous Peoples Day | June 21, Saturday |
| Canada Day | July 1, Tuesday |
| Discovery Day | August 18, Monday |
| Labour Day | September 1, Monday |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30, Tuesday |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 13, Monday |
| Remembrance Day | November 11, Tuesday |
| Christmas Day | December 25, Thursday |
While culturally significant, the following dates are not official statutory holidays in Yukon:
- Heritage Day – February 21, Friday
- Easter Monday – April 20, Sunday
- Boxing Day – December 26, Friday
Employers can choose to provide paid time off for these days through internal paid time off policies or contracts but are not legally mandated to do so.
What If a Statutory Holiday Falls on a Day Off?
If a statutory holiday falls on an employee’s regular day off, the next working day becomes the substituted statutory holiday.
For example, if Canada Day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday would become the statutory holiday instead. Employers must provide paid holiday leave on the substituted day.
This ensures that employees receive their paid statutory holiday even if it coincides with a regular day off. The act preserves the time of entitlement without loss of pay.
Determining Employee Eligibility for Statutory Holiday Pay in Yukon
Yukon’s Employment Standards Act outlines the following key criteria for statutory holiday pay eligibility:
The 30-Day Minimum Employment Requirement
To qualify for statutory holiday pay, employees must be employed for at least 30 calendar days before the holiday. This ensures new hires receive only temporary holiday pay.
The 30 days are calculated consecutively, including non-working days. Some employers may offer earlier holiday pay, but 30 days is the legal standard.
Mandatory Work Shifts Before and After the Holiday
Employees must work their scheduled shifts immediately before and after the statutory holiday, barring authorized absences.
For example, an employee scheduled to work the Friday before and Tuesday after a Monday holiday must fulfill both shifts to qualify for holiday pay. This deters improper extensions of time off.
Permitted Absences That Do Not Jeopardize Eligibility
Certain absences will not eliminate an employee’s statutory holiday pay eligibility. These include:
- Sick leave, especially when validated with a doctor’s note
- Pre-approved vacation time or leaves
- Bereavement leave
- Jury duty
- Other authorized absences
This accommodates legitimate needs without financially penalizing employees.
Working on Statutory Holidays in Yukon: Understanding Your Entitlements
While statutory holidays are intended to provide employees with paid time off, there are instances where employees may be required to work.
In such cases, the Yukon Employment Standards Act ensures fair compensation for working on a designated rest day.
Payment Options for Working on Statutory Holidays
The Act outlines two primary payment options for employees required to work on a statutory holiday:
Overtime Rate: Premium Pay for Holiday Work
One option is for employees to be paid at their applicable overtime rate for all hours worked on the statutory holiday.
The overtime rate is typically 1.5 times their regular hourly rate, as stipulated by the Yukon Employment Standards Act or their employment contract.
This premium pay compensates employees for working on a day designated for rest.
Regular Rate Plus a Day Off: Flexibility and Compensation
Alternatively, employees can be compensated at their regular pay rate for the hours worked on the statutory holiday and receive an additional day off instead of the holiday.
This day off can be added to the employee’s annual vacation time or scheduled at a mutually convenient time agreed upon by both the employee and employer.
This option provides flexibility for both parties while ensuring the employee receives appropriate compensation for working on the statutory holiday.
Entitlement Regardless of Length of Service
It’s crucial to remember that regardless of their length of service, all employees who work on a statutory holiday are entitled to both their general holiday pay and the applicable overtime rate for hours worked.
This provision ensures fair compensation for all employees required to work on a designated day of rest, regardless of their tenure with the company.
Pay Calculation Methods for Different Employee Types
Statutory holiday pay calculations vary based on the employee’s pay structure:
Hourly Employees
Employees paid hourly receive their standard hourly wage for the hours they would typically have worked that day. An employee working 8-hour shifts would receive 8 hours of statutory holiday pay.
Salaried Employees
Salaried employees receive their regular salary, even if the holiday falls within a pay period.
For example, a monthly salaried employee earning $4,000 would still receive $4,000 for that month containing the holiday.
Commission or Piece Work Employees
For commission or piece work, statutory holiday pay equals the employee’s average daily earnings, excluding overtime and bonuses.
If they earned $1,000 in the 5 working days before the holiday, the daily average would be $200.
Irregular Hours Employees
For irregular hours, statutory holiday pay is 10% of the employee’s total wages, including overtime, in the two weeks preceding the holiday week.
If they earned $1,500 in those two weeks, the holiday pay calculation would be 10% of $1,500 = $150.
Read more: Minimum Wage in Yukon
Working on a Statutory Holiday in Yukon
At times, employees may need to work on a statutory holiday. Here are the pay entitlements for working statutory holidays in Yukon:
Employees can receive 1.5x or 2x regular wages for all hours worked on the statutory holiday
Alternatively, the employee can receive regular wages for holiday hours, plus receive an alternate day off
The alternate day off can be added to the annual vacation or taken at a time agreed upon with the employer.
These pay options apply to all hourly, salaried, commission, or piece work employees, even if they have worked less than 30 days.
However, employers can deduct regular wages from salaried employees’ pay if they fail to work on the statutory holiday without consent or notification.
Other Types of Leave Around Statutory Holidays
In addition to statutory holidays, Yukon also mandates other paid and unpaid leaves for employees. Here is a summary of other common leave types in Yukon:
Sick Leave
- Time off: Up to 12 days per year
- Who qualifies: All employees
- Payment: Unpaid
Maternity and Parental Leave
- Time off: 17 weeks maternity + 37 weeks parental leave
- Who qualifies: All eligible new parents
- Payment: Unpaid
Bereavement Leave
- Time off: Up to 1 week
- Who qualifies: All employees
- Payment: Unpaid
Compassionate Care Leave
- Time off: Up to 8 weeks per year
- Who qualifies: All employees
- Payment: Unpaid
Critical Illness of a Child Leave
- Time off: Up to 37 weeks
- Who qualifies: Employees with 6+ months of service
- Payment: Unpaid
While we have covered surrounding statutory holidays in Yukon, each Canadian province and territory has its own set of public holiday legislation. Some key provincial statutory holiday references:
- Statutory Holidays in Nova Scotia
- Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
- Statutory Holidays in British Columbia
- Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island
- Statutory Holidays in Nunavut
- Statutory Holidays in British Columbia
- Statutory Holidays in Ontario
Frequently Asked Questions: Statutory Holidays in Yukon
What are statutory holidays in Yukon?
Statutory holidays are legislated paid days off for employees in Yukon. Eligible workers can take these 11 annual holidays off with holiday pay.
What are the statutory holiday dates in Yukon in 2025?
The 11 statutory holiday dates in Yukon in 2025 are: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada Day, Discovery Day, Labour Day, Truth and Reconciliation Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day.
How do you qualify for statutory holiday pay in Yukon?
To qualify for statutory holiday pay in Yukon, employees must be employed for 30 calendar days before the holiday, work their scheduled shift before and after the holiday, and be available to work on the holiday if required.
How are employees paid for statutory holidays in Yukon?
Statutory holiday pay is based on regular wages for hourly workers, an average daily wage for commission/piece work employees, and 10% of gross wages for the previous 2 weeks for irregular shift employees.
What if a statutory holiday falls on my day off in Yukon?
If a statutory holiday falls on your regular day off, you are entitled to take the next working day as your statutory holiday.
Can my employer make me work on a statutory holiday in Yukon?
Unless your job falls under an exempt category like healthcare, your employer cannot force you to work on a statutory holiday if proper notice is not provided.
When is Discovery Day statutory holiday in Yukon?
Discovery Day in Yukon is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of August to commemorate the 1896 gold discovery that led to the Klondike Gold Rush.
What are the major festivals and events in Yukon?
Major Yukon festivals include the Sourdough Rendezvous, Frostbite Music Festival, Yukon Quest, Discovery Days, National Aboriginal Day, and Yukon Storytelling Festival.
What notice is required to work on a statutory holiday in Yukon?
Yukon employers must provide 30 days written notice for regular workplaces or 7 days' notice for work camp locations when requiring statutory holiday work.
What other leaves are employees entitled to in Yukon?
Other leaves in Yukon include maternity, parental, compassionate care, sick leave, domestic violence leave, organ donation leave, and more. Each has eligibility criteria.