Labour Day: who qualifies for holiday pay and who doesn't

Most Ontario workers are entitled to holiday pay for Labour Day if they worked their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their first scheduled shift after, unless they had a valid reason for missing one of those days.

The specific rule, known as the "Last and First Rule," requires employees to work their last regularly scheduled day before the public holiday and their first regularly scheduled day after, or have reasonable cause for missing either. For example, if an employee's regular work week runs Monday to Thursday and Labour Day falls on a Monday, they must work their Thursday shift before the holiday and Tuesday shift after to qualify.

First, confirm your employees' regular work schedules around Labour Day. Next, ensure they work their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their first scheduled shift after, unless they have a valid reason for missing one. After that, use the Employment Standards Self-Service Tool to check compliance with the public holiday rule.