Paid Holiday: New Brunswick Day

New Brunswick Day, celebrated annually on the first Monday of August, is a statutory or general holiday in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It was officially designated a provincial holiday in 1976. On this day, most businesses and government offices are closed, and employees who are entitled to paid holidays are usually given the day off with pay. New Brunswick Day is a chance for the people of New Brunswick to honour their history, culture, and achievements, as well as to spend time with family and friends.

New Brunswick Day is a statutory holiday

On New Brunswick Day, most businesses and government offices in the province are closed, and employees who are entitled to paid holidays usually get the day off with pay. However, not all workers qualify for paid holidays, so it is advisable to check with your employer to confirm your eligibility.

In addition to New Brunswick Day, there are nine other statutory holidays recognised in the province. These include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day.

In Canada, there are nine statutory holidays recognised nationwide, including Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Canada Day. Each province and territory also has its own designated holidays, such as Family Day in Ontario, Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, and Heritage Day in Nova Scotia.

Statutory holidays, also known as general or public holidays, are days when most businesses are required by law to close but must still pay eligible employees. There are additional rules and payment requirements for employees who work on these days.

Employees must meet certain criteria to qualify for paid public holidays

In New Brunswick, Canada, there are eight paid public holidays. Employees must meet certain criteria to qualify for these paid days off. Firstly, they must have worked for the same employer for at least 90 calendar days in the 12 months before the paid holiday. Secondly, they must have worked their scheduled day of work before and after the holiday, unless there is a valid reason for not doing so, such as illness. Finally, if they have agreed to work on the public holiday, they must report for work and complete their scheduled shift, unless they have a valid reason for not doing so.

In addition to these criteria, employees in certain occupations, such as professionals, house salespersons, and car salespersons, are not eligible for paid public holidays. It is important to note that the criteria for qualifying for paid public holidays may vary depending on the province or territory in Canada.

In general, paid public holidays are days when most businesses are required to close but must still pay eligible employees as if it were a regular workday. Employees who work on a public holiday may be entitled to additional compensation, such as premium pay or time-and-a-half for the hours worked.

Businesses must remain closed on public holidays

In New Brunswick, there are 11 prescribed days of rest during which businesses must remain closed. These include the weekly day of rest (Sunday) and the following public holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Family Day
• Good Friday
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• New Brunswick Day
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

Retail businesses are required to be shut on these days, with the exception of certain businesses that are exempt from this rule and may open on Sundays. These include:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Tourist resorts

Businesses that remain open on a prescribed day of rest in violation of the Days of Rest Act can face fines ranging from a minimum of $140 to a maximum of $1,070.

While there are eight paid public holidays in New Brunswick, there are three prescribed days of rest that are not considered paid public holidays under the Employment Standards Act (ESA): Thanksgiving Day, Victoria Day, and Boxing Day.

It is important for employers to understand the rules around statutory holiday entitlement and pay for their employees. Failure to pay employees the correct stat holiday pay is a violation of the ESA and can result in fines.

Employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to additional pay

Employees in New Brunswick are entitled to eight paid public holidays: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day. Employees who work on a public holiday must receive their regular day's pay plus 1.5 times their regular wage rate for the hours worked on that day.

In addition to the regular day's pay, employees are entitled to 1.5 times their regular wage rate for each hour worked on a paid public holiday. This is in accordance with the Employment Standards Act, which states that employees who qualify for paid holidays in New Brunswick and work on the stat holiday must be compensated for their work.

The Employment Standards Act outlines the minimum standards of employment for employers and employees in New Brunswick. It is important to note that the Act does not distinguish between part-time, full-time, or casual employees; all employees are entitled to the minimum employment rights outlined in the legislation.

The Act also stipulates that employers must provide employees with a weekly rest period of at least 24 consecutive hours. This rest period is typically scheduled on Sundays but may be accumulated and taken at a later time with the approval of the Labour Authority. Additionally, employers are prohibited from assigning any work on Sundays that is currently prohibited by law.

Employees in New Brunswick have further protections under the law. For example, employers cannot dismiss, suspend, lay off, penalize, discipline, or discriminate against an employee for making a complaint or providing information against the employer regarding the Employment Standards Act. This legislation ensures that employees are treated fairly and that their rights are upheld in the province.

There are other paid holidays in New Brunswick

New Brunswick Day is a paid statutory holiday in the province of New Brunswick. It is observed on the first Monday in August. However, it is important to note that this is not the only paid holiday in the province.

New Brunswick has eight paid public holidays in total. In addition to New Brunswick Day, these include:

• New Year's Day (January 1st)
• Family Day (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday (date varies)
• Canada Day (July 1st)
• Labour Day (first Monday in September)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30th)
• Remembrance Day (November 11th)
• Christmas Day (December 25th)

It is worth noting that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for federally and provincially regulated public sector employees, but it is not a public holiday. Private-sector businesses have the option to remain open on this day.

Additionally, while not statutory holidays, there are three prescribed days of rest in New Brunswick where businesses must close: Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day.

Frequently asked questions