Statutory holidays in New Brunswick are specific days that the provincial government recognizes on which qualified employees are entitled to a day off with pay. Since they are legally mandated, employers must adhere to related regulations.
This guide details stat holidays in 2024 and 2025 and related labour rules and pay regulations.
Key Takeaways
- Statutory holidays are days when qualified employees in New Brunswick receive wages even if they don’t work on those days.
- The stat holidays in the province are New Year’s Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, New Brunswick Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day.
- Employees who work on a statutory holiday receive one and one-half times their regular wage rate for every hour worked on a general holiday.
Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick for 2025
Below is the list of statutory holidays in New Brunswick and their respective dates.
| Holiday | 2024 | 2025 |
| New Year’s Day | January 1 (Monday) | January 1 (Wednesday) |
| Family Day | February 19 (Monday) | February 17 (Monday) |
| Good Friday | March 29 (Friday) | April 18 (Friday) |
| Canada Day | July 1 (Monday) | July 1 (Tuesday) |
| New Brunswick Day | August 5 (Monday) | August 4 (Monday) |
| Labour Day | September 2 (Monday) | September 1 (Monday) |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 (Monday) | November 11 (Tuesday) |
| Christmas Day | December 25 (Wednesday) | December 25 (Thursday) |
Statutory Holiday Pay Rules in New Brunswick
The following are the stat holiday pay rules in the province:
- All employees working on a stat holiday are entitled to 1.5 times regular wages for hours worked.
- Qualified employees who work on a general holiday earn their regular day’s pay plus 1.5 times their regular wages for the hours worked. If they do not work, they receive a regular day’s pay.
- Employees who do not qualify for statutory holiday pay earn 1.5 times their regular wages for the hours they worked but do not receive wages if they do not work on a statutory holiday.
To be eligible for a paid stat holiday, an employee must meet the following:
- Must have worked for their employer for a minimum of 90 calendar days within the 12 months prior to the stat holiday. This includes not just working days, but all days.
- Must work their scheduled shift before and after the statutory holiday, though these don’t need to be the days immediately before or after the holiday.
- Must work their shift on the holiday after agreeing to it, reporting, and completing the working day unless they have a valid reason for absence.
- Must work on a fixed schedule instead of having the option to decide when to work.
- Their job is not exempted by labour rules.
Calculating Statutory Holiday Pay in New Brunswick
Statutory holiday pay in New Brunswick is calculated using the following guidelines:
- For qualified employees who work – Regular day’s pay + 1.5 times regular wages for hours worked
- For qualified employees who do not work – Regular day’s pay
- For employees who do not qualify but go to work – 1.5 times regular wages for hours worked
The stat holiday pay for employees whose wages vary from day to day will be based on an average day’s pay, which includes all hours worked (except overtime) in the 30 days preceding the general holiday.
Ineligible employees who do not work on the stat holiday receive no wages.
Labour Standards for Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
Below are some of the labour standards for stat holidays in the province:
- Qualified employees who work on a statutory holiday are entitled to receive their regular day’s pay in addition to 1.5 times their regular wage rate for the hours they work that day.
- Employees who qualify for statutory holiday pay but do not work on the stat holiday earn a regular day’s pay for that day.
- An employer and an employee can agree to allow the employee to get another day off in lieu of a paid stat holiday. The substituted day must be used by the employee before their next vacation period.
- Instead of paying an employee’s regular day’s pay for the stat holiday, employers have the option to pay an employee an additional 4% of all their gross wages, beginning on the employee’s first employment day.
What Happens If a Statutory Holiday in New Brunswick Falls on a Weekend?
If a statutory holiday in New Brunswick falls on a non-working day or on a day when the employee is on vacation, the employee is eligible for another paid working day off to replace the holiday. The employee also has the option to receive a regular day’s pay for that stat holiday.
FAQs
Is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid statutory holiday in New Brunswick?
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for New Brunswick employees in the federally and provincially regulated public sector. This holiday is not mandatory for businesses in the private sector.
What makes statutory holidays different from prescribed days of rest in New Brunswick?
Statutory holidays in New Brunswick require employers to provide a paid day off. With prescribed days of rest, businesses are required to close, but are not obliged to provide paid time off to their employees. All stat holidays in New Brunswick are categorized as prescribed days of rest, but not all prescribed rest days are considered paid stat holidays.
What is the minimum wage in New Brunswick in 2024?
The minimum wage in New Brunswick in 2024 is $15.30 per hour as of April 1, 2024. Employers are required to pay their employees for all the hours they work.
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