Hi,

Could anyone tell me why the holiday allocation from employers in Canada is so low? I've been offered a job in Calgary and the allocation is 2 weeks for the entire year! and I have to work 42 hours per week (however I'll get one Friday off per month) Does the lack of vacation time bother anyone? Apprently I'd get more holidays making fake Gucci wallets in a Bangkok sweat shop!

Thanks

David

It is what it is.

At least you'd get one Friday off a month. Many people get two weeks' vacation and no Fridays off.

A person with a certain amount of industry experience under their belt often can negotiate recognition of that "industry experience," and get three weeks' vacation from the get go. If you want the job because you're relying on it to get a work permit or something like that, you may have less leverage.

There are heaps of previous threads about this topic. There are pros and cons for moving to any country. In the case of the USA and Canada, the short amount of vacation time is one of the cons.

If you object to so little leave, Canada may not be the right place for you.

Wot Judy said above.

Leave is not transportable across international boundaries. What is considered the "norm" in one country may be totally different to what is the "norm" in another. It's a bit like asking why you don't get full free health coverage in Canada like you do in England - it's a no brainer, the only answer is "you don't - get over it"

Why is the holiday allocation from employers in Britain so high?

I've wanted to know this since I found this site.

Is the holiday allocation in the UK state mandated or is it employer driven?

If state mandated, what was the purpose?

Was it to reduce the unemployment numbers at some point in the past?

Just curious.

Working time directive rules state uk employers must provide 20 days, inc stats. So infact if the candian company is honouring stats and 2 weeks, its better than what you get for some UK compaines.

Rgds Scotty

Thanks Scotty,

So really it's employer driven just as it is here in Canada.

If you work for a UK employer that gives you 6 weeks vacation per year and you decide to change jobs are those 6 weeks transferred to the new employer? I'm guessing no?

The two week plus stats is the minimum mandated by the provinces not necessarily what everyone gets.

If I were still working I would now be getting 6 weeks vacation as well as 11 lieu days for statutory holidays for a total of 8 weeks plus a day.

Cheers
Steve

Very much employer driven, all vacation is open for negotiation and is based on the employers t&c's. In fact people who work for my company in the Uk who have 10 years service get less time off than there canadian counterparts. Personally I was lucky enough to keep 4 weeks, and get the stats, my only problem which is sad I know is making sure I use it

Rgds Scotty

Is it common (or indeed even heard of) or buy or sell holiday.For example, in my job I am entitled to 6 weeks paid holiday, but I can either buy or sell a week if I chose to. Is this something that happens in Canada ?

Also, how many Bank or Public holidays are the norm ?

Maybe the more progressive employers do that, but mine does not. My company recognises 12 stat holidays though I think there are provincial differences, however I know some companies may recognise more.

Rgds Scotty

There are five statutory holidays that are applicable across Canada. They are:

• New Year's Day : January 1st
• Good Friday (or Easter Monday in Québec)
• Canada Day (Memorial Day in Newfoundland) : July 1st
• Labour Day : First Monday in September
• Christmas Day : December 25th

Each province has statutory holidays in addition to that. Here in Alberta, the statutory holidays, in addition to the above list, are:

• Family Day (third Monday in February -- as far as I know we are the only province that celebrates it)
  
• Victoria Day -- Monday preceding May 25th
  
• Thanksgiving Day -- second Monday in October
  
• Remembrance Day -- November 11th (day off may be given at another time in lieu of November 11th -- it's quite common to give workers the day off between Christmas and New Year to make the Christmas break longer)
  
• Although it is not a statutory holiday, it is common for employers to give employees a paid day off on Boxing Day (December 26th). Workers in the retail industry are expected to work, however. In fact it's an enormously busy day for retail workers, as there are many post-Christmas sales on that day.

You can look up each province's statutory holidays on the Work Rights website.

There are also non-statutory holidays. For instance in Ontario, it is common for government employees (gov offices, schools) to be given a day off with pay for Easter Monday and whatever they are calling the August long weekend these days. They are not stats, so you can be rostered to work them with no extra pay.
Some provinces also mandate boxing day as a paid day off, so check out that link to the provincial holidays to see what you are entitled to in your province.

Hi

My wife and I were really spoilt in the UK....I was on 6 weeks annual leave and she only worked when the kids were in school....so she had about 13 weeks annual leave.
We knew before we came here that we would never ever have that again.....but our life here is so much better than in the UK...and although our holiday allowance will be missed this year...it is a small price to pay.

I think the secret is to get into the Canadian way of life where they make good used of their weekends. My aunt lives in cottage country which is just fab in the summer.....so we plan to spend long weekends down there.

Pete

David,

From what I remember the lack of holidays is more than compensated for by the Salary you are expecting.

Butch

Is it my maths, or does that not give you an extra 13 days a year??

Do you get every Saturday and Sunday off too?? If so, you're a jammy whotsit!!

Oh and don't forget 10(?) statutary holdays a year too ........