🇨🇦 New Brunswick Holiday Pay Calculator 2025

Calculate your paid public holiday pay under the New Brunswick Employment Standards Act.

NB ESA 8 Paid Holidays 1.5× Premium

Key Rules: NB has 8 paid public holidays. You must be employed 90 calendar days AND work your scheduled days before and after the holiday (unless a good reason like illness). If you work on the holiday, you get regular day's pay + 1.5× for hours worked.

💡 Quick Examples — From the NB ESA Guide▶

Qualifies + Day Off:
Regular day's pay = $160.00

Qualifies + Works 8 hrs:
Regular day's pay ($160) + 8 × $20 × 1.5 ($240) = $400.00

Not Qualified + Works 8 hrs:
Only 8 × $20 × 1.5 = $240.00 (no regular day's pay)

Variable Wages (Qualified + Day Off):
$4,400 total wages ÷ 20 days worked = $220.00

💼 Employment Information

Date of Hire

Public Holiday

Year

📅 Holiday Date: —

✅ Qualification Check

I worked my scheduled regular day before the holiday

I had a good reason (e.g. illness)

I worked my scheduled regular day after the holiday

I had a good reason (e.g. illness)

I am in an exempt occupation

⚠️ Exempt Occupation: Certain professions and occupations are exempt from NB public holiday pay: architecture, dentistry, law, medicine, engineering, accounting, psychology, veterinary science, real estate sales, car/mobile home sales, commission salespersons outside the employer's establishment, and athletes.

I am under an "elect to work" arrangement

⚠️ Elect to Work Arrangement: If you have complete discretion to accept or refuse work without consequences, you do not qualify for paid public holiday pay.

💰 Wages

My wages vary from day to day

Regular Daily Wages ($)

🛠️ Work on the Holiday (Optional)

I worked on the public holiday

Hours Worked on the Holiday

Regular Hourly Rate ($)

If qualified: regular day's pay + 1.5× for hours worked. If not qualified: only 1.5× for hours worked.

⚙️ 4% Alternative Option

My employer uses the 4% alternative option

Gross Wages for the Year ($)

Instead of paying regular day's pay for each holiday, the employer pays 4% of gross wages. Daily equivalent ≈ (4% of annual gross) ÷ 8 holidays. If you work on the holiday, you still receive 1.5× for hours worked.

QUALIFIED — HOLIDAY PAY CALCULATED

$0.00

total holiday pay

✓ Qualified

Public Holiday —

Holiday Date —

Days Employed Before Holiday —

90-Day Qualification —

Last/First Day Rule —

Regular Day's Pay $0.00

Hours Worked on Holiday 0 hours

Premium Pay (1.5× for hours worked) $0.00

      TOTAL HOLIDAY PAY
      $0.00
    

⚠️ Not Qualified: You did not meet the qualification requirements. You may not have met the 90-day rule OR you missed a scheduled day without good reason. If you worked on the holiday, you receive only 1.5× for hours worked.

⚠️ Exempt Occupation: Your occupation is exempt from NB public holiday provisions. If you worked on the holiday, you receive 1.5× for hours worked only.

💰 Variable Wages: Your wages vary from day to day. Your regular day's pay is based on your average daily earnings over the 30 days before the holiday (excluding overtime).

📋 4% Alternative: Your employer uses the 4% alternative. You receive 4% of gross wages spread across the year. If you work on the holiday, you still receive 1.5× for hours worked.

✓ You Qualify: You met the 90-day employment and last/first scheduled day requirements. Your holiday pay is calculated below.

📅 Substitute Day: If the holiday falls on a non-working day or during your vacation, you receive a substitute day off with pay. It must be taken no later than your next vacation period.

⏱️ Overtime Interaction: Hours worked on a public holiday are NOT counted when calculating weekly overtime for that workweek.

📋 Your Rights:

Public holiday pay is wages and must be paid
Report issues to NB Employment Standards
Call 1-888-452-2687 for assistance
Minimum standards cannot be waived by agreement

🧮 Calculation Walkthrough — See your numbers plugged in▶

Step 1 — Qualification:

—

Step 2 — Regular Day's Pay:

—

Step 3 — Premium Pay (if worked):

—

Step 4 — Total Holiday Pay:

—

📖 What Counts as Wages for Average Day's Pay▶

✅ Included in the calculation:

Regular wages (hourly, salary)
Commissions
Bonuses
All wages earned during the 30-day period

❌ Excluded from the calculation:

Overtime pay (specifically excluded per NB ESA s. 21)

✅ Qualification Rules — Detailed▶

To qualify for paid public holiday pay, an employee must meet ALL of the following:

Employed for at least 90 calendar days (not only workdays) during the 12 months before the public holiday
Worked their scheduled regular day before the holiday (not necessarily the day immediately before)
Worked their scheduled regular day after the holiday (not necessarily the day immediately after)
If they agreed to work on the holiday, they must have reported and worked their scheduled shift
NOT be employed under an "elect to work" arrangement
NOT be employed in a specific exempt occupation

Good Reasons for Missing a Scheduled Day: Most reasons related to illness are considered acceptable. Other reasons may also be accepted depending on the circumstances.

🚫 Exempt Occupations — Who's Not Covered▶

The following occupations are exempt from NB paid public holiday pay:

Architecture
Dentistry
Law
Medicine
Chiropody
Optometry
Pharmacy
Professional engineering
Public or chartered accounting
Psychology
Surveying
Veterinary science
Real estate sales
Car and mobile home sales
Sales professionals (other than route sales) paid wholly or partly by commission outside the employer's establishment
Athletes participating in sport activities

📅 New Brunswick's 8 Paid Public Holidays

Holiday	Date Rule	2025 Date

Note: Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day are prescribed days of rest but NOT paid public holidays under the NB ESA.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual entitlements are governed by the New Brunswick Employment Standards Act and any applicable employment contract (which may provide greater benefits). For disputes, contact the NB Employment Standards Branch at 1-888-452-2687.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I qualify for NB holiday pay?

You must be employed for at least 90 calendar days in the 12 months before the holiday, AND work your scheduled regular day before and after the holiday (unless there is a good reason like illness). You also must NOT be in an exempt occupation or elect-to-work arrangement.

How is holiday pay calculated?

If you qualify and don't work, you receive a regular day's pay. If you qualify and work, you receive regular day's pay PLUS 1.5× your rate for hours worked.

What if I work on the holiday?

You receive 1.5× your regular rate for all hours worked, plus your regular day's pay (if you qualify). Non-qualifying employees who work receive only the 1.5× premium.

What if my wages vary?

Your regular day's pay is based on your average daily earnings: total wages (excluding overtime) in the 30 days before the holiday ÷ number of days worked.

What is the 4% alternative option?

Instead of paying a regular day's pay for each holiday, the employer may pay an additional 4% of all gross wages. If you work on the holiday, the employer must also pay 1.5× for hours worked.

What about substitute days?

If the holiday falls on a non-working day or during vacation, qualifying employees receive a substitute day off with pay. It must be taken no later than the next vacation period.

Who is exempt from holiday pay?

Professionals (architecture, dentistry, law, medicine, engineering, accounting, etc.), certain salespersons (real estate, car/mobile home sales, commission sales outside the employer's establishment), and athletes.

Do holiday hours count toward overtime?

No. Hours worked on a public holiday are NOT counted when calculating weekly overtime for that workweek.

Is Victoria Day or Thanksgiving a paid holiday in NB?

No. Victoria Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Boxing Day are prescribed days of rest but NOT paid public holidays in New Brunswick.

Official New Brunswick resources: NB Employment Standards · Contact Employment Standards Branch

⚠️This tool is for information purpose only. We do not guarantee any claim.
It is made based on data publicaly available on official website of concerned department.

Last Updated: March 2026 | Official Determination Required

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