Stat Holiday Pay Calculator (Ontario)
Public holiday pay under the ESA, and what you're owed if you work the holiday.
✓ Verified 2026-09-19 · sources cited below · no sign-up
The Ontario public holiday pay formula
Public holiday pay = (regular wages earned in the four work weeks before the work week of the holiday + vacation pay payable in those four weeks) ÷ 20. "Regular wages" excludes overtime, premium pay, and previous public holiday pay. An employee who works the holiday and is paid premium pay receives 1.5× their regular rate for each hour worked in addition to public holiday pay.
If the employee agrees in writing to a substitute day off instead, they receive regular wages for the holiday hours and public holiday pay on the substitute day, which must fall within three months (or twelve with written agreement).
Frequently asked questions
How is public holiday pay calculated in Ontario?
Add the regular wages earned in the four work weeks before the work week of the holiday, plus the vacation pay payable in those four weeks, and divide by 20. That is the public holiday pay, whether or not the employee works the holiday.
What if I work on the stat holiday?
Either (a) public holiday pay plus premium pay of 1.5 times the regular rate for every hour worked, or (b) regular wages for the hours worked plus a substitute day off with public holiday pay. The employer and employee agree in writing on option (b).
Which are the Ontario statutory holidays?
New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Civic Holiday and Remembrance Day are not ESA public holidays, though many employers observe them.
Do part-time or new employees qualify?
Yes. There is no minimum length of service. The employee must work their last regularly scheduled shift before and first after the holiday unless they have reasonable cause, or the entitlement is lost.
Source: Ontario ESA – Public holidays. Verified 2026-09-19. Minimum-standards estimate; not legal advice. Special rules apply to some industries (hospitality, continuous operations, hospitals).