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Alberta.ca Account
Part of General holiday flexibility engagement

General holiday flexibility (public engagement) survey

The Government of Alberta is gathering feedback on how to make it easier for Albertans to observe major cultural holidays.

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General holiday flexibility engagement
  • General holiday flexibility (public engagement) survey

Introduction

Alberta’s Employment Standards Code establishes minimum standards for most employment relationships in the province, including rules for general holidays (sometimes called “statutory holidays”). There are nine general holidays in Alberta:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Alberta Family Day
  • Good Friday
  • Victoria Day
  • Canada Day
  • Labour Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Remembrance Day
  • Christmas Day

On a general holiday, eligible employees are entitled to general holiday pay. Employers can choose to designate other days as general holidays for employees in addition to the nine listed (common examples include Easter Monday, Boxing Day). For more information on general holidays and general holiday pay.

The Government of Alberta has reviewed models from other jurisdictions to find ways for Alberta’s cultural community members to more easily observe major holidays, without placing undue hardship or expense on Alberta businesses.

This survey builds on a recent engagement with Alberta employers and employee groups. We are now asking for input from the broader public to help determine which approach to general holiday flexibility is most workable and widely supported. Your input on two possible approaches to increase flexibility around general holidays will help us understand how workplaces currently manage holidays and the potential benefits and challenges of each option – for both employees and employers.

This survey is limited to obtaining feedback on general holiday flexibility options. Other aspects of general holiday rules, such as eligibility criteria and calculation methods, are not addressed.

The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and closes December 19, 2025.

Survey

All fields are required unless otherwise indicated.

General information

For the purpose of this survey: 

“cultural holidays” refers to any other holidays besides Alberta’s nine general holidays.
“general holidays” refers to New Year’s Day, Alberta Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, and Christmas Day.

How familiar are you with Alberta’s current general holiday rules under the Employment Standards Code?
How important is it to you that Albertans of all faiths and cultures have the flexibility to observe their own religious holidays or days of cultural significance?
Have you or someone you know ever requested a different day off to observe a religious or cultural holiday?
Do you believe Alberta’s current general holiday structure reflects the religious and cultural diversity in the province?
Please indicate which stakeholder category you belong to.

Policy options under consideration

Option #1: Employees can substitute general holidays with cultural holidays with employer’s consent.

The first approach under consideration would involve amending the Employment Standards Code to allow employees to substitute a general holiday for a cultural holiday with the employer’s consent.

For example:

  • Alex requests to have the Lunar New Year as a general holiday instead of Victoria Day.
  • Alex’s employer approves the request.
  • For Alex, Victoria Day passes as a normal day of the week while his coworkers, if eligible, receive general holiday pay.
  • On the Lunar New Year, Alex receives general holiday pay as long as he meets general holiday eligibility criteria. For Alex’s coworkers, the Lunar New Year passes as a normal day of the week.

Taking this approach would mean there is no increase to the minimum number of general holidays per year (nine). The nine original general holidays will apply to employees by default unless the employee specifically requests, and the employer agrees, to replace a standard general holiday with a cultural holiday.

Option #2: Increase awareness of the employer’s ability to designate general holidays.

Currently, employers have the authority to recognize other days as general holidays in addition to the nine general holidays under the Employment Standards Code. Designated holidays apply to all employees under that employer.

Employees can ask their employer to recognize additional days as general holidays. Once an employer has designated an additional holiday, all employment standards general holiday pay rules apply to that day.

Using this approach, there would be no change to Alberta’s general holiday rules, but the Government of Alberta would work to raise awareness amongst employees and businesses of the option to designate additional general holidays. Employers will continue to have the freedom to choose whether they will designate additional general holidays in the workplace.

Considering both options, which would you prefer the Government of Alberta pursue?
Does your organization’s current policy permit for general holidays to be substituted to allow employees take time off for cultural or religious observances?
Does your organization designate an additional holiday to allow employees observe cultural or religious holidays?
Which of these describe you?
Assuming the government adopts policy option 1, as an employer are you likely to consent to allowing employees to substitute general holiday(s) for cultural observance?
Assuming the government adopts policy option 2, as an employer are you likely to designate an additional holiday to allow employees observe cultural or religious holidays?
Assuming the government adopts policy option 1, as an employee are you likely to request to substitute general holiday(s) for cultural observance?
If changes were made in how general holidays are observed, which of the following concerns would you have (if any)?

Select all that apply
Are there any existing general holidays that employees should not be able to substitute?
Check off the general holiday(s) you feel employees should not be able to substitute.
How was your experience sharing your input today?

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