In Ontario, the Civic Holiday is not a statutory holiday, which means that employers are not legally required to give employees the day off or pay them if they choose to close their business for the day. However, many employers choose to provide the day off with pay as a goodwill gesture or as part of their company policy.
Here are some things to consider if you decide to give your employees the day off:
Company Policy or Collective Agreements: Check if your company policy or any collective agreements require you to provide paid time off for the Civic Holiday. Some employers may include additional holidays in their employee contracts.
Consistency: Ensure that you are consistent in how you treat this holiday for all employees to avoid any perceptions of unfairness or discrimination.
Communication: Clearly communicate to your employees whether they will be getting the day off and whether it will be paid or unpaid.
Alternative Compensation: If you do not provide a paid day off, you might consider offering other benefits, such as additional time off on another day or a bonus.
