How Is Vacation Pay Calculated in Canada?

By Anna Duncan

If you are an employee in Canada, it is important to understand how vacation pay is calculated. Vacation pay is a benefit that employers are required to provide to their employees, and it is calculated based on the employee’s earnings and length of service.

What is Vacation Pay?

Vacation pay is a benefit that employers provide to their employees. It is intended to give employees time off from work for rest and relaxation. In Canada, vacation pay is a legal requirement, and employers must provide it to their employees.

How Is Vacation Pay Calculated?

Vacation pay is based on the amount of money that an employee has earned during their employment with the company. The amount of vacation pay that an employee receives varies depending on their length of service with the company.

  • Employees who have been with the company for less than 5 years are entitled to 4% of their earnings as vacation pay.
  • Employees who have been with the company for more than 5 years are entitled to 6% of their earnings as vacation pay.

It’s worth noting that some provinces in Canada have different rules regarding vacation pay. For example, in Ontario, employees are entitled to at least two weeks of paid vacation per year after working for a company for five years.

When Is Vacation Pay Paid Out?

Vacation pay must be paid out at least once per year. However, some companies may choose to pay out vacation pay more frequently, such as every paycheck or every month.

The Bottom Line

As an employee in Canada, understanding how vacation pay is calculated can help you ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of compensation for your time off work. If you have any questions about your entitlements regarding vacation time or other employment benefits, speak with your employer or refer to your province’s labour laws for more information.