By: Kristina Kovacevic
With the Canada Day stat holiday coming up, and falling on a Tuesday this year, it’s raised one of our favourite workplace questions:
“Can I switch my stat holiday day with another day so I can have a long weekend?!”
Before we get into the “can-I-have-Monday-off?” scenarios, let’s cover some basics about stat holidays in BC and what your rights are under the Employment Standards Act in BC.
What are you entitled to?
On a statutory holiday, employees are entitled to:
- A day off with statutory holiday pay, or
- If you work on the holiday, you are entitled to 1.5 times your regular wage for the first 12 hours, and double time for hours worked over 12, plus an average day’s pay.
This applies to full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility criteria: do you qualify for stat pay?
Not everyone automatically qualifies for stat holiday pay in BC. In line with the BC Employment Standards Act, you must:
- Have been employed for 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday; and
- Have been working or earning wages on 15 of the 30 days immediately before the statutory holiday.
If you work on the statutory holiday but aren’t eligible (for example, you didn’t meet the 15/30 rule), you are only entitled to regular pay for the hours you worked.
Calculating stat holiday pay: how much do you get?
Wondering how to calculate stat holiday pay? Here’s where it gets a bit mathy, but stay with us.
For employees with varying work schedules, your stat holiday pay is based on your average daily earnings, which is:
Total wages earned (excluding overtime) in the 30 calendar days before the holiday ÷ number of days worked during that period
As an example:
Let’s say you worked 12 days in the past 30 and earned $2,400 (before tax, no OT).
$2,400 ÷ 12 days = $200 stat holiday pay
But wait, what if you don’t work on the stat?
This is a common one: what happens if the stat falls on your regular day off?
If you don’t work on the day a stat falls, you don’t get stat pay, and your employer isn’t required to give you a different day off, unless your contract or collective agreement says otherwise.
Can you swap your stat holiday for a Monday or Friday?
Here’s the part we’re all wondering about: Can you switch your stat day to make a long weekend?
Short answer: Not unless your employer agrees.
The BC Employment Standards Act requires the stat holiday to be observed on the actual day, unless both employer and employee mutually agree to substitute the day. Some employers offer “floater days” or allow flexible schedules by mutual agreement. It’s always best to have this agreement in writing and it doesn’t have to be a formal letter, even just a simple email or Slack/Teams message will do.
This is especially relevant for 2025 stat holidays in BC, where some fall mid-week.
If you’re hoping for a long weekend, chat with your manager, just don’t assume you can swap it on your own.
Other unique situations to keep in mind
- If you’re unionized, your collective agreement may contain different terms, those override the ESA.
- Sick on the stat? You may still be entitled to pay if you’re eligible, especially if you’re on approved leave or have medical documentation.
So, in conclusion…
Stat holidays are a great time to recharge, but they come with specific rules and entitlements under BC’s ESA. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible or what you’ll get paid, it’s worth checking your recent work history and having a conversation with your employer.
And hey, while it might not always result in a long weekend, understanding your rights means no surprises come payday.
Oh, and Happy Canada Day!
Let’s remember that we are fortunate to live and work on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples including the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
Need help interpreting the ESA or managing time-off requests? We’re here to support you. Reach out to us with any questions about stat holiday entitlements.