Statutory Holidays in Manitoba

As an employer regulated by Manitoba’s Employment Standards Code, you are responsible for providing your employees time off with pay on General Holidays.

When are Manitoba’s General Holidays?

Statutory holidays (or “stat holidays”) are defined in Manitoba’s Employment Standards Code as “general holidays”. The province has eight (8) general holidays:

  1. New Year’s Day
  2. Louis Riel Day
  3. Good Friday
  4. Victoria Day
  5. Canada Day
  6. Labour Day
  7. Thanksgiving Day
  8. Christmas Day

Most employees are entitled to receive stat holiday pay on general holidays irrespective of whether they work on these days or not. But Easter Sunday, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), Terry Fox Day (first Monday in August), and Boxing Day (December 26) are not statutory holidays. Employers don’t have to pay workers who don’t work on these days.

Employers should also know that though Remembrance Day (November 11) is not a stat holiday in Manitoba, businesses operating on this holiday must follow certain restrictions. Retail businesses can’t be open between 9am and 1pm on Remembrance Day. There are exceptions if the only goods/services sold during these hours include prepared meals or goods, health services, vet services, drugs/medicine, gasoline, and emergency vehicle repair. It is not mandatory to pay staff who don’t work on Remembrance Day, though it is common for employers to do so.

Statutory Holiday Entitlement 

All employees in Manitoba are entitled to stat holiday pay unless they are:

  • Scheduled to work on a public holiday, but take a leave of absence without informing the employer
  • Absent without the employer’s permission from their last scheduled workday before the stat holiday, or their first scheduled workday after the public holiday
  • Election officials, enumerators and any other temporary person appointed under The Elections Act do not receive stat holiday pay

Employers should note that an employee’s length of service does not impact the stat holiday pay requirement. If a worker starts the job even one day before the stat holiday, they would still be entitled to 5% of the wages earned on that day as stat holiday pay.

Ask Employer Line about statutory holidays for your small business.

If you still have questions about general holidays or how to calculate holiday pay, call today. Our experts have the expertise you need to ensure that you provide your employees with the general holidays and pay they are owed—keeping you compliant with Employment Standards. Give our free employer advice line a call today at:  1-888-219-8767.