Saskatchewan has 10 public (statutory) holidays a year. For most employees they're days off with pay: holiday pay is 5% of the wages earned in the 28 days before the holiday. Anyone who works on one also earns 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked, on top of that holiday pay.
The province uses three separate payments for public holidays: public holiday pay, premium pay for working the day, and overtime. Mixing them up is where payroll goes wrong. Here's each one, from the Government of Saskatchewan's employment standards pages.
Saskatchewan's 10 statutory holidays in 2026
| Public holiday | Observed in 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Family Day | February 16 |
| Good Friday | April 3 |
| Victoria Day | May 18 |
| Canada Day | July 1 |
| Saskatchewan Day | August 3 |
| Labour Day | September 7 |
| Thanksgiving | October 12 |
| Remembrance Day | November 11 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
Boxing Day and Easter Monday aren't on the list. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 is a statutory holiday for federally regulated workplaces, but it isn't a public holiday under The Saskatchewan Employment Act, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. Some do, through a policy or collective agreement.
When a holiday falls on a weekend
If your workplace is normally open on Sunday, the holiday rules apply to that Sunday. If it's normally closed on Sunday, and New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday, the next Monday is the holiday. A holiday that falls on a Saturday isn't moved to another day. Canada Day follows federal law, which moves it to Monday, July 2 when July 1 is a Sunday.
How public holiday pay is worked out
Employees get 5% of their wages from the 28 days (four weeks) before the holiday. That includes vacation pay for vacation taken in those four weeks and holiday pay for any earlier holiday in the period. It doesn't include overtime. New employees qualify even with less than four weeks' service, based on what they've earned so far.
The province's own example, as of October 2026: an employee earns $600 a week plus commission. In the four weeks before a holiday they work three weeks ($1,800), take one week of vacation ($600) and earn $1,000 in commission. That's $3,400, and 5% of that comes to $170.
New starters and leavers
A new employee doesn't need four weeks' service to qualify. Their holiday pay is 5% of the regular wages they've earned before the holiday, however short that period is. On the other side, you must be an employee on the day. If someone quits, is laid off or is terminated before the holiday, they don't get holiday pay for it. The province also publishes a public holiday pay calculator that runs the 28-day sum for you.
The insight salaried employers miss
For a salaried employee who gets the day off with pay, the normal day's pay is taken off the 5% figure, not paid on top. In the same example, a five-day week makes a day's base wage $120, so the employer still owes $50 ($170 minus $120), as of October 2026. Some fixed-salary employees will already have been paid in full by the day off, but you have to check the maths rather than assume.
Working on a statutory holiday
Anyone who works on a public holiday earns 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for all hours worked, on top of the normal day's pay. This includes managers, professionals and operators of group homes.
Reporting for duty pay still applies. The employee gets whichever is greater: three hours' pay or the time-and-a-half wages for the hours worked. With the minimum wage at $15.70 an hour since October 1, 2026, one hour's work on a holiday pays $47.10, because three hours' pay beats $23.55 in holiday wages.
Overtime in a holiday week
In a week with a public holiday, overtime starts after 32 hours, not counting any hours worked on the holiday itself. Daily overtime follows the schedule: after eight hours for someone scheduled for eight-hour days, after 10 for someone on 10-hour days. Under a modified work arrangement or averaging permit, each holiday cuts the hours before overtime by eight, so a 160-hour, four-week period becomes 152.
Who has different rules
Special public holiday pay rules apply to employees operating a well drilling rig, employees of commercial hog operations, and full-time employees in hospitals, educational institutions, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. Hourly-paid construction employees are paid four per cent of the year's wages instead, by December 31 or within 14 days of termination. You also have to be an employee on the day: someone whose job ends before the holiday doesn't get holiday pay for it.
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If you employ people in more than one province, the rules differ: compare statutory holidays in Manitoba and statutory holidays in Alberta.
My verdict
Saskatchewan's system is fair to employees but easy to get wrong in payroll. Pay 5% of the last four weeks for every holiday, pay time and a half on top for anyone who works it, and drop the overtime threshold to 32 hours in a holiday week. Salaried staff need the one subtraction step, every time.
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory holidays does Saskatchewan have?
Ten: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Saskatchewan Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day.
Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan?
No. Boxing Day isn't on Saskatchewan's list of 10 public holidays.
How is statutory holiday pay calculated in Saskatchewan?
It's 5% of the employee's wages in the 28 days before the holiday, including vacation pay and earlier holiday pay but not overtime.
What do I get for working on a Saskatchewan statutory holiday?
1.5 times your regular hourly rate for all hours worked, on top of your public holiday pay.
Is September 30 a statutory holiday in Saskatchewan?
Not under The Saskatchewan Employment Act. It's a statutory holiday for federally regulated workplaces only, though some provincial employers observe it.
Do new employees get statutory holiday pay in Saskatchewan?
Yes, even with less than four weeks' service. They get 5% of the regular wages earned before the holiday.
What happens if a Saskatchewan holiday falls on a Saturday?
It isn't moved to another day. Only New Year's Day, Christmas Day and Remembrance Day move to Monday when they fall on a Sunday at a workplace normally closed Sundays.
When does overtime start in a week with a statutory holiday?
After 32 hours of work in that week, not counting hours worked on the holiday itself.
