Mandatory Holidays in Quebec: What Every Employer Needs to Know

List of Mandatory Public Holidays in Quebec (2024–2025)

Quebec recognizes 8 public holidays that must be granted to eligible employees:

Employee Eligibility: Who Gets Paid?

To qualify for a paid statutory holiday, an employee must:

1. Not be absent without valid reason on the workday before or after the holiday

2. Have been employed for at least 30 days

Part-time Employees

They are also entitled to holiday pay — it is calculated based on the average daily earnings (excluding overtime) of the past 4 weeks.

Payment Rules

If the employee does not work on the holiday:

• They must be paid 1/20 of their average wages from the past 4 weeks (excluding overtime)

If the employee must work on the holiday:

• You must pay their regular day’s wage, plus either:

  • An alternative paid day off, or

  • An additional day’s pay

Special Cases

• Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24): Must be observed by all employers in Quebec, except those who operate outside the province.

• Tips-based employees: You must still ensure they receive the minimum statutory holiday pay.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply?

Revenu Québec and the CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) can enforce compliance, which may include:

• Retroactive holiday pay

• Administrative fines

• Potential audits or employee complaints

Beehive Insight: Make Payroll & Holiday Management Simple

Tracking time, calculating holiday pay, managing part-time vs. full-time compliance — it’s a lot.

Beehive helps SMBs find the right payroll and HR software to:

• Automate statutory holiday calculations

• Manage schedules around holidays

• Ensure compliance with Quebec’s labour laws

From gyms to cafés to pet shops — we’ll match you with the tool that fits.