BC stat holiday and overtime rules at a glance
British Columbia has 11 statutory holidays in 2026 — tied for the most in Canada. Eligible employees get an average day's pay for each one. Overtime is 1.5× after 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, and BC is the only province that pays double time after 12 hours in a day.
BC's minimum wage is $18.25 an hour since June 1, 2026.
BC statutory holidays 2026
| Holiday | 2026 date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 |
| Family Day | Mon, Feb 16 |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3 |
| Victoria Day | Mon, May 18 |
| Canada Day | Wed, Jul 1 |
| BC Day | Mon, Aug 3 |
| Labour Day | Mon, Sep 7 |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Wed, Sep 30 |
| Thanksgiving | Mon, Oct 12 |
| Remembrance Day | Wed, Nov 11 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 |
Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory holidays in BC, although many employers give them.
How BC stat holiday pay is calculated
Eligibility: you must have been employed for at least 30 calendar days before the holiday and have worked or earned wages on at least 15 of the 30 days before it.
Average day's pay: the wages you earned in the 30 calendar days before the holiday divided by the number of days you worked or earned wages.
Example: you earn $25 an hour and worked 20 eight-hour days in the last 30 days — $4,000 ÷ 20 = $200 average day's pay.
| Regular rate (8-hr days) | Holiday pay (day off) | Work 8 hrs on the holiday | Work 14 hrs on the holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| $18.25 | $146.00 | $365.00 | $547.50 |
| $22.00 | $176.00 | $440.00 | $660.00 |
| $25.00 | $200.00 | $500.00 | $750.00 |
| $30.00 | $240.00 | $600.00 | $900.00 |
If you work the holiday, you get 1.5× for the first 12 hours and 2× after 12, plus the average day's pay. Our stat holiday pay calculator shows both for BC.
BC overtime rules
- 1.5× for hours over 8 in a day, up to 12.
- 2× for hours over 12 in a day.
- 1.5× for hours over 40 in a week — only the first 8 hours of each day count toward the 40, so hours aren't double-counted.
- Time bank: you can ask in writing to bank overtime wages and take them later as paid time off or cash. Your employer can close the bank with a month's notice and must then pay it out or schedule the time off.
Managers, some high-tech professionals, commission salespeople, farm workers and some other occupations have different rules.
BC minimum wage
BC's general minimum wage is $18.25 an hour as of June 1, 2026, and rises each June 1 with inflation. Full-time, that's about $37,960 a year before tax. See how it compares in our minimum wage by province guide, or compare BC with Alberta's rules.