Statutory holidays, also known as general holidays, are days recognized by the Government of Manitoba as holidays. On these days, employees are either entitled to take the day off with pay or receive a pay rate different from the usual.
Manitoba has nine statutory holidays that the province celebrates throughout the year. This article covers what to know about the various stat holidays in the province, how to calculate stat holiday pay, and the labour standards.
Key Takeaways
- Statutory holidays, or general holidays, are public holidays that most employees in Manitoba get paid for whether they work on those days or not.
- The various stat holidays in Manitoba include New Year’s Day, Louis Riel Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, July 1, Labour Day, Orange Shirt Day (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
- Employees who work on a statutory holiday are paid 1.5 times their regular pay for all hours worked on that day.
Statutory Holidays in Manitoba for 2024 and 2025
Below is the list of statutory holidays in Manitoba and their respective dates.
| Holiday | 2024 | 2025 |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 (Monday) | January 1 (Wednesday) |
| Louis Riel Day | February 19 (Monday) | February 17 (Monday) |
| Good Friday | March 29 (Friday) | April 18 (Friday) |
| Victoria Day | May 20 (Monday) | May 19 (Monday) |
| July 1 | July 1 (Monday) | July 1 (Tuesday) |
| Labour Day | September 2 (Monday) | September 1 (Monday) |
| Orange Shirt Day | September 30 (Monday) | September 30 (Tuesday) |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 14 (Monday) | October 13 (Monday) |
| Christmas Day | December 25 (Wednesday) | December 25 (Thursday) |
Statutory Holiday Pay Rules in Manitoba
Employees who work on a stat holiday are entitled to 1.5 times their regular workday rate for the hours they worked on the holiday. This is on top of their general holiday pay.
All employees are entitled to statutory holiday pay except in the following cases:
- They are scheduled to work on a statutory holiday but fail to report for work without obtaining the employer’s permission.
- They fail to report to work on both their last scheduled workday before the general holiday and their first scheduled workday after the holiday.
Calculating Statutory Holiday Pay in Manitoba
Employees who work the same number of hours are paid one regular workday’s pay as statutory holiday pay.
For employees whose wages vary or have different hours of work, the statutory holiday pay is calculated at 5% of the gross wages in the four weeks prior to the holiday. The calculation does not include overtime.
Labour Standards for Statutory Holidays in Manitoba
Below are labour standards for general holidays in the province:
- All employees scheduled to work on a statutory holiday pay but absent without the employer’s permission do not receive stat holiday pay.
- If an employee is absent, without the employer’s permission, on their last scheduled workday prior to the stat holiday, or on the first scheduled workday after the holiday, they are not entitled to general holiday pay.
- Length of service does not affect stat holiday pay requirements. Employees do not need to work a specific length of time to qualify for stat holiday pay.
- Employees who work on Remembrance Day are entitled to wages of at least one-half of a regular workday at 1.5 times their regular pay. If they work more than half of their usual hours, they earn 1.5 times their usual wage for all hours they worked, on top of the regular day’s pay.
What Happens If a Statutory Holiday in Manitoba Falls on a Weekend?
If a statutory holiday in Manitoba falls on a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a regular workday for the employee, they are entitled to take the next regular workday off with statutory holiday pay.
FAQs
How does stat holiday pay work in Manitoba?
Most employees who work on a statutory holiday receive 1.5 times their regular pay rate for the hours they put in on the stat holiday. This is on top of the general holiday pay of 5% of their wages in the four weeks preceding the said holiday.
Do hourly employees in Manitoba receive statutory holiday pay?
Yes, hourly employees receive statutory holiday pay. Most workers in the province qualify for this benefit, regardless of whether they are employed on a full-time or part-time basis. This ensures that various types of employees receive fair compensation.
Is Family Day a statutory holiday in Manitoba?
Instead of Family Day, Manitoba celebrates Louis Riel Day. This statutory holiday is observed every third Monday in February. Louis Riel, one of the province’s founders, played a pivotal role in Manitoba becoming the fifth province in Canada.
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