In Quebec, the Monday before May 25th is National Patriot’s Day. This is a public holiday where you don’t work and still get paid. What happens if you must work?
If you work on the 23th
It doesn’t matter if you work part-time or full-time, your boss can ask you to work during a holiday.
If they do, they must pay you for any hours you work. In addition, they must compensate you for the holiday.
Your employer has two choices:
- They can give you money to compensate you. For most people who work full-time, this will equal a full day’s pay. For people who work part-time, it will usually be less.
or
- They can give you a different day off. This is a paid day off. Your employer must pay you what you would have earned had you worked that day.
You must take this day off within the 3 weeks before or after May 23th.
To qualify for the money or a different day off, you can’t miss the workday before or after May 23th without a good reason or your employer’s permission.
If you’re on vacation
Then your employer has the choice of whether to give you money or a different day off. You must agree with your employer about when you will take this day off.
If you never work on a Monday
Everything works the same even if you don’t normally work on Mondays.
For example, if you work from Tuesday to Friday, you still qualify for the monetary compensation or the day off.
To qualify, you also can’t miss the workday before or after May 23th without a good reason or your employer’s permission.