Stat holiday pay in BC: who qualifies and how to calculate it
In BC, an employee qualifies for statutory holiday pay after 30 calendar days of employment if they worked or earned wages on at least 15 of the 30 days before the holiday. Stat pay is an average day's pay: wages earned in the 30 days before the holiday divided by the days worked. If they work the holiday, they also get time and a half for the hours worked, and double time after 12 hours.
Updated October 27, 2026. Rules from BC Employment Standards pages linked below.
BC statutory holidays
2026: New Year's Day (January 1), Family Day (February 16), Good Friday (April 3), Victoria Day (May 18), Canada Day (July 1), BC Day (August 3), Labour Day (September 7), National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), Thanksgiving (October 12), Remembrance Day (November 11), Christmas Day (December 25).
2027: January 1, February 15, March 26, May 24, July 1, August 2, September 6, September 30, October 11, November 11, December 25.
Boxing Day, Easter Monday and Easter Sunday are not statutory holidays in BC (BC government: statutory holidays).
Who qualifies
- Employed for 30 calendar days before the holiday, and
- Worked or earned wages on 15 of the 30 days before it. Paid vacation days and other paid stat holidays count as days with wages.
- BC has no "day before and day after" rule.
- An employee who does not qualify and works the holiday gets regular pay only.
- Some groups are excluded under the regulation, including managers and some farm and silviculture workers (BC government: qualify for statutory holiday pay).
How to calculate an average day's pay
- Add up wages earned in the 30 calendar days before the holiday: regular wages, salary, commission, stat holiday pay, and required paid vacation and sick pay. Leave out overtime.
- Divide by the number of days worked in those 30 days, counting paid vacation days, paid stat holidays and required paid sick days.
Worked example: a carpenter on Remembrance Day
In the 30 days before November 11 the carpenter worked 20 days and earned $5,600 in regular wages, plus overtime that is excluded. Average day's pay: $5,600 / 20 = $280.
- If the crew is off on November 11: pay $280.
- If he works 8 hours at $35 an hour: 8 x $35 x 1.5 = $420, plus the $280 average day's pay, total $700.
- If he works 13 hours: 12 x $52.50 = $630, plus 1 x $70 = $70, plus $280, total $980.
If the holiday lands on an employee's regular day off, they still get an average day's pay (BC government: calculate statutory holiday pay).
FAQ
Can I give a different day off instead?
Section 48 of the Employment Standards Act allows substituting another day with the agreement of the majority of affected employees. Read the section before relying on it.
Do part-time employees get stat pay?
Yes, if they meet the 30 days and 15 of 30 days tests. Many casual and part-time workers do not hit 15 days.
Is stat pay subject to CPP, EI and tax?
Yes, it is regular employment income.
Does it apply to subcontractors?
No. Stat pay is for employees. If you are not sure whether a worker is an employee, see our page on employee vs contractor in BC.
Is this federal?
No. This page is BC Employment Standards. Federally regulated businesses (trucking across provinces, banks, airlines) follow the Canada Labour Code.
Payroll rules change. Talk to your accountant or payroll provider before you run a holiday pay period you are unsure about.