News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – With the holidays around the corner, it is important to know the details of public holidays under the Employment Standards Act.

“It is important for employees and employers to understand their rights and responsibilities around public holiday pay,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault.

Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are paid public holidays in New Brunswick under the Employment Standards Act.

Boxing Day is a prescribed day of rest under the Days of Rest Act; however, it is not a paid public holiday. The Days of Rest Act is administered by the Department of Environment and Local Government. More information is available on the department’s website.

In order to qualify for a paid public holiday, a person must have been employed by the employer for at least 90 days. The employee must have worked his or her scheduled day before and after the holiday, and must report to work if he or she has agreed to work on the public holiday, unless good reasons not to do so are provided.

Employees who qualify are entitled to a regular day’s pay. In addition, if they work on the holiday, they also must receive time and half of their regular pay for each hour worked on the holiday.

More information is available on the Employment Standards website.

To reach an Employment Standards officer, call toll-free: 1-888-452-2687.