Employer obligations during Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving is unofficially dubbed the “day of rest,” and if BrightHR’s absence data shows anything, it’s that the fast-approaching October long weekend is one that Canadian employers need to plan for.

Taking data from over 9,000 Canadian businesses, we’ve already seen a noticeable spike in vacation bookings with nearly 800 more employees booking the day off compared to an average Friday in 2025.

Between turkeys, family gatherings, and some well-deserved downtime, it’s easy to forget that Thanksgiving also brings HR obligations. Any mistakes with holiday pay or poorly planned scheduling can lead to dissatisfied employees or even legal issues.

That’s why we’ve created this helpful guide to help Canadian employers stay compliant and avoid common pitfalls over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Is Thanksgiving a statutory holiday in your jurisdiction?

If you’re already stressed about staffing, start by asking the most fundamental question: Is Thanksgiving recognized as a statutory holiday in my jurisdiction?

In most provinces, the second Monday in October, AKA Thanksgiving, is a legislated public holiday. But, some Atlantic provinces like Nova Scotia and Newfoundland don’t recognize it as a paid holiday under their labour standards codes.

It’s still a federal holiday, meaning employees in federally regulated industries (like banking, telecom, or transport) will have the day off regardless.

So, it’s crucial to understand your local laws, including holiday eligibility, substitution rules, and any sector-specific requirements before finalizing your Thanksgiving schedule.

Are all employees eligible to get Thanksgiving off?

Even if Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in the jurisdiction where your business operates, not every employee automatically qualifies for a day off. Before closing up for the weekend, confirm:

• The eligibility criteria for your jurisdiction (e.g. do they need to work certain scheduled days before/after the holiday).

• Whether certain members of staff are exempt, such as managers or workers in specific sectors, like transportation.

Whatever your policy, make sure it’s clearly outlined in your employee handbook and accessible to all staff. This’ll ensure no one is confused about whether they are entitled to the day off on Thanksgiving.

And if your employees do come into work on Thanksgiving…

If you run a business that stays open on Thanksgiving and your staff are required to or agree to work on that day, you have several obligations depending on your jurisdiction.

In most provinces, employees who work on a statutory holiday are entitled to premium pay (typically 1.5x their regular rate) plus public holiday pay, or they can take a paid day off at another time.

The key is ensuring whatever arrangement you make complies with provincial legislation and is clearly agreed upon in writing, such as in an employment contract.

Best practices for employers over the Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving weekend is when many employees enjoy downtime with their families and friends. To keep your business running smoothly, avoid confusion, legal risks, and stay organized, consider taking these proactive steps:

1. Review your policies
   Go over your employment contracts, handbook, and employee agreements to ensure they’re in line with statutory requirements for your province and sector.

2. Communicate early and clearly
   Let your employees know early how your business will handle Thanksgiving. Make it clear who’ll be required to work (if needed), if they get the day off, if they’ll be paid, etc.

3. Document agreements
   If your business will stay open, and an employee agrees to work or take a substitute day, get it in writing—whether that’s a signed form or a quick email confirmation.

4. Check your payroll systems
   If you’re using a payroll software or provider, make sure it uses the correct formula for holiday pay and premium pay (if applicable). The same measures should be taken if you’re managing payroll manually.

Stay compliant this Thanksgiving with BrightHR

Thanksgiving should be a time to relax and recharge, not stress over payroll errors or last-minute schedule mix-ups. But without clear policies, even a well-intentioned long weekend can turn into an admin nightmare.

Missed pay, unclear expectations, or confusion over who’s entitled to time off can quickly snowball into formal complaints or compliance issues.

With BrightHR, you can avoid the hassle. Our easy-to-use HR software, expert documentation, and 24/7 advice line help you stay compliant and keep operations running smoothly so you and your team can focus on what really matters this Thanksgiving.

Interested in seeing how BrightHR helps over 9,000 Canadian business owners simplify people management? Book a demo today!