In Saskatchewan, eligible employees are entitled to 10 statutory holidays per year. Your holiday pay is calculated as 5% of your gross wages earned in the four weeks immediately preceding the holiday. If you are required to work on the stat holiday, you receive this 5% plus a premium rate of 1.5 times your regular hourly wage.
Long weekends and public holidays are a welcome relief for hardworking residents across Saskatchewan. 🎉 Whether you plan to spend time with family in Weyburn, relax at a lake near Prince Albert, or simply catch up on rest, these days are legally protected breaks. However, confusion often arises when it is time to check your pay stub.
Understanding your rights under the Saskatchewan Employment Act ensures you are never shortchanged by an employer. Unlike some other provinces, Saskatchewan has unique calculation rules regarding who qualifies and exactly how much they should be paid. In this guide, we will break down the rules for statutory holiday pay so you know exactly what to expect.
Step-by-Step Process for Calculating Statutory Holiday Pay in Saskatchewan
You do not need to be a payroll accountant to figure out what you are owed. 🧞 By following a simple formula, you can easily verify whether your employer has compensated you correctly for the holiday.
Step 1: Identifying the 10 Public Holidays
First, confirm that the day is actually a recognized statutory holiday. In Saskatchewan, there are 10 public holidays: New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Saskatchewan Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day. Note that Boxing Day and Easter Monday are not mandatory statutory holidays in this province.
Step 2: Calculating Your Regular Holiday Pay (The 5% Rule)
If you get the day off, you are still entitled to be paid. 💵 To calculate your holiday pay, take your total gross wages (excluding overtime) earned in the four-week period immediately before the public holiday, and calculate 5% of that total. This is the amount you must receive for the day off, regardless of whether you work full-time or part-time.
Step 3: Calculating Premium Pay if You Work the Holiday
If your employer requires you to work on the statutory holiday, you get paid significantly more. You are entitled to the regular 5% holiday pay calculated in Step 2, PLUS premium pay of 1.5 times (time and a half) your regular hourly wage for every single hour you work on that specific day.
How Much Does Statutory Holiday Pay Amount To?
The amount of money you take home depends entirely on how much you worked in the preceding 28 days. 💰 Here is a practical example to demonstrate how the calculations work for an employee earning $20 CAD per hour as of 2026:
- Full-Time Employee (Day Off): If you earned $3,200 CAD in the 4 weeks before the holiday, your 5% stat pay is $160 CAD. You receive this $160 CAD for resting at home.
- Part-Time Employee (Day Off): If you only worked weekends and earned $800 CAD in the last 4 weeks, your 5% stat pay is $40 CAD.
- Working the Holiday (Full-Time): If you earned $3,200 in the last 4 weeks, you get your $160 stat pay. If you also work an 8-hour shift on the holiday, you get 8 hours at $30 CAD/hour ($240). Your total pay for that day is $400 CAD.
| Work Situation on Holiday | Wages Last 4 Weeks | Holiday Pay Owed (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Given the Day Off | $2,000 | $100 (5% of $2,000) |
| Given the Day Off | $4,000 | $200 (5% of $4,000) |
| Worked 8 Hours ($20/hr base) | $2,000 | $100 + $240 (Premium Pay) = $340 |
How Long Does It Take to Receive the Pay?
You do not have to wait a special amount of time to see your holiday money. Employers must include your statutory holiday pay on the regular paycheque that covers the pay period in which the holiday occurred. If the holiday falls at the very end of a pay cycle, it must appear on the immediately following pay stub.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do part-time and seasonal employees get statutory holiday pay?
Yes. In Saskatchewan, there is no minimum hours requirement to qualify. As long as you have earned wages in the four weeks prior to the holiday, you are entitled to the 5% holiday pay calculation.
Do I have to work the day before and after the holiday to get paid?
No. Unlike several other Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan does not use the strict first and last rule. Your eligibility is based purely on the wages earned in the 28 days leading up to the public holiday.
Is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a stat holiday in Saskatchewan?
As of 2026, September 30 is a recognized holiday for federally regulated employees (like banks and airlines) and provincial government employees. However, it is not a mandatory statutory holiday for private-sector businesses under Saskatchewan provincial law, though some employers observe it voluntarily.
What happens if the statutory holiday falls on my regular day off?
You still receive your holiday pay! If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday when you do not normally work, you are still legally entitled to the 5% calculation added to your next paycheque.
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