GENERAL HOLIDAYS
GENERAL HOLIDAYS ARE DAYS THAT HAVE BEEN DECREED BY GOVERNMENTS TO HOLD SPECIAL MEANING. SOME HOLIDAYS ARE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AND OTHERS ARE OF LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE. SOME HOLIDAYS COMMEMORATE A HISTORICAL EVENT, WHILE STILL OTHERS ARE RELIGIOUS IN NATURE.
DURING THESE DESIGNATED GENERAL HOLIDAYS, EMPLOYEES WHO MEET THE CONDITIONS PRESCRIBED IN THE LABOUR STANDARDS ACT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A DAY OFF WITH PAY.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE GENERAL HOLIDAYS AS LISTED IN THE LABOUR STANDARDS ACT:
NEW YEAR’S DAY
GOOD FRIDAY
VICTORIA DAY
CANADA DAY
THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST
LABOUR DAY
THANKSGIVING DAY
REMEMBRANCE DAY
CHRISTMAS DAY
GENERAL HOLIDAYS
ELIGIBILITY EXCEPTIONS
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE EXCEPTIONS WHERE THE EMPLOYER WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY AN EMPLOYEE FOR A GENERAL HOLIDAY LISTED IN THE LABOUR STANDARDS ACT:
WHERE THE EMPLOYEE HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR A TOTAL OF THIRTY DAYS DURING THE PRECEDING TWELVE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAY;
WHERE THE EMPLOYEE DID NOT REPORT TO WORK ON THAT DAY AFTER HAVING BEEN CALLED TO WORK ON THAT DAY;
WHERE, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HIS OR HER EMPLOYER, THE EMPLOYEE HAS NOT REPORTED FOR WORK ON EITHER HIS OR HER LAST REGULAR WORKING DAY PRECEDING OR FOLLOWING THE GENERAL HOLIDAY;
WHERE THE EMPLOYEE IS ON PREGNANCY OR PARENTAL LEAVE.
SUMMARY NOTE
IN GENERAL, IF AN EMPLOYEE DOES NOT WORK ON THE GENERAL HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO A REGULAR DAY’S PAY. IF THE EMPLOYEE WORKED ON A GENERAL HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO EITHER ANOTHER DAY OFF WORK WITH PAY OR A NORMAL DAY’S PAY PLUS (1.5) TIMES HIS/HER REGULAR RATE OF PAY FOR THE TIME WORKED ON THE GENERAL HOLIDAY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LABOUR STANDARDS COMPLIANCE OFFICE
BOX 1000, STN 590
IQALUIT, NUNAVUT X0A 0H0
TEL: 1-867-975-6322 TOLL FREE: 1- 877-806-8402
FAX: 1-867-975-6367
THIS IS A GUIDE ONLY
FOR INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATIONPURPOSES, REFER TO THE NUNAVUT LABOUR STANDARDS ACT, ITSREGULATIONS AND AMMENDMENTS.