dboy

some are optional. For instance, boxing day. It also varies from province to province. BC gets 9 offical stats, but Easter Monday and Boxing Day are optional for some reason. I work for the Feds, so we get them. So 11 total.

jimf

Where I used to work in the UK it was 20 plus bank holidays to start with extra days for grade/length of service. To compete with other companies in the job market they found they had to increase the starting entitlement to 25 + bank holidays.

It seems that where I work in Alberta, all those from the UK got 20 days plus stat holidays whereas the norm would be 10 days plus stat increasing with length of service. No one gets more that 20 days plus stats. However, you can purchase leave and there is a system where you can work a 10 day fortnight in 9 days ie do the hours for 10 days in 9 days and take a day off.

10 weeks would be nice but I don't think could ever be justified in the real (non-unionised private sector) world.

fledermaus

I use the term loosely pedant. That's what the hospital calls it, a birthday stat day and a floating stat day.

Jingsamichty

I don't get paid any holidays whatsoever. No stat days, no annual leave, no sickdays, personal time... nada. I know loads of folk like that.

So, quite clearly, there is no 'absolute legal minimum' for anything in Canada. Well, Alberta.

dboy

I agree. I do find that there is a much less regimented approach here to time off, probably to make up for less holidays. I used to work 4 day on 4 day off, so if i took 4 days holidays, I wound up with 12 days off. I personally feel like I get lots of time off and have almost 4 months leave banked.

You adapt, but for those coming from the UK will have to adjust.

dbd33

I know very many people in that position in Ontario, myself included.

fledermaus

The Federal and Provincial requirements are here

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/lp/spila/..._vacations.pdf

dboy

well fool you and them for allowing it to happen, unless you are considered self employed of course.

You don't have to stay with your present employer.

jimf

There are exemptions but here is says 2 weeks paid vacation rising to 3 weeks after 5 years:

http://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/1471.html

Jingsamichty

Fool me? Hardly.

Why would I want an employer to take a skim off my salary each month, and then give it back to me when I go on holiday, for a certain number of days that he tells me? What am I, a child?

No thanks, I'll stick with getting my wage totally grossed-up, and then deciding myself how much holiday I want.

dbd33

Besides that aspect of it, it becomes a philosophical thing, I don't like paying people not to do work and now would not feel comfortable taking a firm's money to be on holiday. It would seem like cheating.

dboy

You were suggesting that your employer was ignoring the law, if you don't expect such a response, don't muddy the waters. Simple isn't it. And what is this skimmed off??? Some get an additional 6 percent in pay added each month for holidays that is re-directed for holidays, but skimming?.

Not sure what kind of company you work for...sounds like a con to me.

Alan2005

Not sure I see it like that. My company pays me cash, I do what the t&c's say in my contract which was agreed when I started. It's not a zero sum game and everybody wins (well in my case).

Almost Canadian

Me too - all the rest are muppets

I think you will find he is self employed and you have fallen right into the trap he set

jimf

If you're paid by the hour thats fine. However, for those who agree to an emplyment contract that specifies an annual salary, weekly working hours and number of days holiday per year there is no logical reason for a philosophical objection to being paid while on holiday.