In Prince Edward Island, there are 8 paid statutory holidays. To qualify for holiday pay, you must have been employed by the same employer for at least 30 days and have earned wages on at least 15 of the 30 calendar days immediately before the holiday.
Public holidays are meant to give workers a well-deserved break to spend time with family or celebrate cultural events. However, statutory holiday pay remains one of the most misunderstood topics under the Prince Edward Island Employment Standards Act 📍. Many employees, particularly part-time workers or those in the hospitality industry in Charlottetown and Cavendish, often miss out on money they are legally entitled to receive.
In PEI, the recognized paid holidays as of May 2026 include New Year’s Day, Islander Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day . Notably, Boxing Day and Easter Sunday are not official statutory holidays in the province. Knowing the rules ensures your paycheque reflects the hard work you contribute.
Step-by-Step Rules for Statutory Holiday Pay in PEI
Determining your holiday entitlements involves a simple formula set by the provincial government. Employers are required by law to apply these rules automatically to your payroll.
Step 1: Checking Your Eligibility
Not every employee instantly gets holiday pay. You must meet the “15 out of 30” rule. This means you must have been officially employed by the company for at least 30 days, and you must have earned wages (worked a shift or been on paid vacation) for at least 15 of the 30 days right before the holiday .
Step 2: Receiving the Day Off with Pay
If you qualify and do not work on the statutory holiday, you are entitled to a regular day off with pay. Your employer must pay you a regular day’s wage. For employees with varying hours, this is usually calculated by averaging your daily earnings over the previous 30 days 💵.
Step 3: Compensation if You Work on the Holiday
If you are scheduled to work on the statutory holiday, your employer must pay you your regular daily wage, PLUS time-and-a-half (1.5x) your regular hourly rate for all hours worked on that specific day. Alternatively, they can pay your regular wages for the day worked and grant you a different paid day off later.
How Much Should You Be Paid in Prince Edward Island?
Your exact holiday pay depends on your standard hourly wage and how many hours you usually work. The law is designed so that you do not lose income simply because the business closed for the holiday.
- Salaried Employees: If you receive a fixed salary, you simply receive your regular paycheque without any deductions for the day off.
- Part-Time Employees: If you meet the 15/30 rule, your pay is averaged based on the total hours you worked in the preceding 30 days.
- Working the Holiday: If you earn $16.00 CAD per hour and work an 8-hour shift on Canada Day, you would earn your regular day’s pay ($128) PLUS time-and-a-half for the hours worked ($24/hr * 8 = $192), for a total of $320 CAD for that single day.
| Scenario | Holiday Pay Entitlement (If Qualified) |
|---|---|
| You have the day off | Regular day’s wage (or averaged pay) |
| You work on the holiday | Regular wage + Time-and-a-half (1.5x) |
| Holiday falls on your regular day off | Another day off with pay (typically the next workday) |
How Long Does the Employer Have to Pay You?
Your statutory holiday pay must be included on your next regular paycheque immediately following the holiday 🕙. If your employer fails to pay it, or calculates it incorrectly, you have a strict window of 6 months to file a complaint with the PEI Employment Standards Branch to recover the missing funds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Boxing Day a paid statutory holiday in PEI?
No, Boxing Day (December 26) is not a statutory holiday under the PEI Employment Standards Act. Unless your employment contract specifically offers it as a paid perk, employers do not have to pay extra for working that day.
Do part-time students get holiday pay?
Yes! Employment status (part-time, student, or full-time) does not matter. As long as the employee meets the 30-day employment and 15-day earning rules, they are fully entitled to statutory holiday pay.
What if a holiday falls on my vacation week?
If a statutory holiday occurs while you are on approved annual vacation, the employer must grant you an additional day off with pay, either added to the end of your vacation or at another agreed-upon date.
Can my employer force me to work on a statutory holiday?
It depends on your employment contract and industry. In many continuous operations (like hospitals, restaurants, and tourism in PEI), you can be scheduled to work, but you must be compensated with premium pay as required by law.
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