Time Off During Easter: Do You Know Your Rights?

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For Easter, workers are entitled to a paid holiday. But does your employer have to give you both Good Friday and Easter Monday off? Test your knowledge before you commit to an Easter egg hunt!

Time Off During Easter: Do You Know Your Rights?

Are you entitled to time off for both Good Friday and Easter Monday?

Wrong answer

Your employer can choose to give you either Friday or Monday off. They can also choose to give you both days off of their own will.  

As for Easter Sunday, it isn’t an official public holiday. This means that your employer doesn’t have to give you time off on that day if you normally work on Sundays.  

Correct answer

Your employer can choose to give you either Friday or Monday off. They can also choose to give you both days off of their own will.  

As for Easter Sunday, it isn’t an official public holiday. This means that your employer doesn’t have to give you time off on that day if you normally work on Sundays.  

Are you entitled to double time if you work on Good Friday and Easter Monday?

It depends

If your employer doesn’t give you time off on one of those days, they must pay you your usual wages for the hours you work. Additionally, they must compensate you. Your employer has two options: 

  • either give you a paid day off at another time, or
  • pay you the compensation in money. 

The expression “getting paid double time” refers to the second option: you can get paid up to double your usual wages for that day, because you’ll receive your usual wages plus compensation for working on a public holiday. This rule applies to all public holidays. 

It depends

If your employer doesn’t give you time off on one of those days, they must pay you your usual wages for the hours you work. Additionally, they must compensate you. Your employer has two options: 

  • either give you a paid day off at another time, or
  • pay you the compensation in money. 

The expression “getting paid double time” refers to the second option: you can get paid up to double your usual wages for that day, because you’ll receive your usual wages plus compensation for working on a public holiday. This rule applies to all public holidays. 

Can your employer decide how much compensation you’ll receive?

Wrong answer

The law specifies the amount you’re entitled to. Your employer must pay you 1/20th of the wages you earned in the four full weeks of pay before the week of the holiday. This amount includes the tips you earned, but not any wages you may have earned for working overtime.  

If you are paid in whole or in part by commission, the amount of the compensation is 1/60th of the wages earned in the 12 weeks before the week of the holiday. 

Keep in mind! If you work full time, this amount is approximately equivalent to one day’s pay. If you work part-time, the amount will usually be less than one day’s pay. 

Correct answer

The law specifies the amount you’re entitled to. Your employer must pay you 1/20th of the wages you earned in the four full weeks of pay before the week of the holiday. This amount includes the tips you earned, but not any wages you may have earned for working overtime.  

If you are paid in whole or in part by commission, the amount of the compensation is 1/60th of the wages earned in the 12 weeks before the week of the holiday. 

Keep in mind! If you work full time, this amount is approximately equivalent to one day’s pay. If you work part-time, the amount will usually be less than one day’s pay. 

Can you take an additional day off?

Correct answer, under certain conditions

If you plan on taking another day off before or after a public holiday, you need to get your employer’s permission or have a valid reason to do so. Otherwise, you won’t be entitled to take paid time off or receive compensation on the public holiday.  

Wrong answer

You can, under certain conditions. If you plan on taking another day off before or after a public holiday, you need to get your employer’s permission or have a valid reason to do so. Otherwise, you won’t be entitled to take paid time off or receive compensation on the public holiday.