I am an employer, so statutory holidays cost me a bundle and I don’t even get paid unless there is money in the company to pay me! But, rest assured, the employees will get paid as long as they qualify.
Sure, after the year we have had, we all deserve a couple of days off with pay. For the employees who qualify, Christmas Day is a stat, as is New Year’s Day. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not statutory holidays, nor is Boxing Day!
Under the Alberta Labour Act, employees must not be paid for these days off, or paid time and a half for working them, unless previously negotiated with their employer.
Sometimes, when a company closes for the holidays, or vacation days are negotiated, these extra days are written into a policy or agreement. But under our laws, the employer is not obligated to pay for anything other than Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Next year, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on Saturdays, so nothing will be paid, unless those Saturdays are regular work days for the employee!
It is important to note that no holiday pay is owed when an employee does not work on the holiday when required to do so. There is also no holiday pay owed when an employee is absent from work without the employer's consent on the regular working day just before or after the holiday. So, don’t call in “sick” the day before or the day after a statutory holiday! Otherwise, employees who have worked for more than 30 days for their current employer in the 12 months before the holiday are entitled to holiday pay.
Of course, there are some job positions and industries that are exempt from statutory pay, such as members of municipal police services, and various categories of salespersons and brokers.
Ok, so enjoy the holidays and your paid time off, and next week I will write something more interesting, like thank goodness we are starting 2010!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
It's that time of year again!
It is now just over a week before Christmas and many people, millions and millions of people, will soon be celebrating this holiday in some way.
Lots of people will be taking advantage of the holiday season in general and enjoying the time off, while others are deeply religious and are honouring their beliefs. Many different cultures, origins, and religions will come together during this time of year to at least acknowledge something, even if it is peace on earth and goodwill towards men.
Those who believe in giving gifts this time of year will pack the malls for last minute but hopefully somewhat thoughtful gifts, while others may only believe in giving at other times of year. Regardless of what people are doing this time of year, they will generally all be spending, spending, and spending some more!
Lots of people lost their jobs this year, and many more had pay cuts in some form. Whether employees had to deal with working fewer hours than they were used to, had to take a pay cut, lost their jobs entirely, or did not get their usual Christmas bonuses, people did learn to live with their wage. However, during the Christmas season, people always seem to find the extra dollars or credit needed to buy more than they should, and more than they would any other time of year.
Companies also tend to overspend this time of year, as they thank customers for their business and thank employees for their hard work. Companies spend on clients and employees without really looking at who celebrates the holidays and who doesn’t, but rather do it because it’s just the thing to do this time of year. Every service provider in the city is likely to receive some goodies, homemade and bought, which of course is very thoughtful, but also very fattening!
Yes, we all generally overindulge for a few days or even a few weeks, over the holiday season. We will over give and over receive, over spend and over thank, over party and over eat, but at least we will all overdo it together!
We might as well enjoy this time of year as best we can, as it will be another 51 weeks or so before we get to do it all over again. It’s been a difficult year and we could all benefit from some holiday cheer.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, or happy whatever it is you are celebrating; enjoy the season!
Lots of people will be taking advantage of the holiday season in general and enjoying the time off, while others are deeply religious and are honouring their beliefs. Many different cultures, origins, and religions will come together during this time of year to at least acknowledge something, even if it is peace on earth and goodwill towards men.
Those who believe in giving gifts this time of year will pack the malls for last minute but hopefully somewhat thoughtful gifts, while others may only believe in giving at other times of year. Regardless of what people are doing this time of year, they will generally all be spending, spending, and spending some more!
Lots of people lost their jobs this year, and many more had pay cuts in some form. Whether employees had to deal with working fewer hours than they were used to, had to take a pay cut, lost their jobs entirely, or did not get their usual Christmas bonuses, people did learn to live with their wage. However, during the Christmas season, people always seem to find the extra dollars or credit needed to buy more than they should, and more than they would any other time of year.
Companies also tend to overspend this time of year, as they thank customers for their business and thank employees for their hard work. Companies spend on clients and employees without really looking at who celebrates the holidays and who doesn’t, but rather do it because it’s just the thing to do this time of year. Every service provider in the city is likely to receive some goodies, homemade and bought, which of course is very thoughtful, but also very fattening!
Yes, we all generally overindulge for a few days or even a few weeks, over the holiday season. We will over give and over receive, over spend and over thank, over party and over eat, but at least we will all overdo it together!
We might as well enjoy this time of year as best we can, as it will be another 51 weeks or so before we get to do it all over again. It’s been a difficult year and we could all benefit from some holiday cheer.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah, or happy whatever it is you are celebrating; enjoy the season!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
12 days of Christmas
On the 12th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, 9 paid statutory holidays, with the costs completely covered by the company, without cost or implications to me.
On the 11th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, four percent or more of vacation pay, also completely covered by my employer.
On the 10th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, friends and a social environment, where I get to meet and mingle with co-workers, laugh, and share.
On the 9th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a chance to increase my skills, to learn and to grow.
On the 8th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, an additional year to put on my resume.
On the 7th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a better understanding of cultural diversification and humanity. I will be more compassionate of others because of working here.
On the 6th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a paycheck!
On the 5th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, some references for future work opportunities.
On the 4th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, some good days, some bad days, some frustrating days, some scary days, some truly joyous days, but every day filled with some kind of emotion.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, the opportunity to better myself, if I choose, in various ways. I will make positive choices to be a better person because of working here.
On the 2nd day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, the ability to be creative, logical, skilled, friendly, intelligent, and whatever else I excel at and was hired to do and be.
On the 1st day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, hope for next year, to set goals for myself, make plans, and look forward to a new year at work.
On the 11th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, four percent or more of vacation pay, also completely covered by my employer.
On the 10th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, friends and a social environment, where I get to meet and mingle with co-workers, laugh, and share.
On the 9th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a chance to increase my skills, to learn and to grow.
On the 8th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, an additional year to put on my resume.
On the 7th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a better understanding of cultural diversification and humanity. I will be more compassionate of others because of working here.
On the 6th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, a paycheck!
On the 5th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, some references for future work opportunities.
On the 4th day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, some good days, some bad days, some frustrating days, some scary days, some truly joyous days, but every day filled with some kind of emotion.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, the opportunity to better myself, if I choose, in various ways. I will make positive choices to be a better person because of working here.
On the 2nd day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, the ability to be creative, logical, skilled, friendly, intelligent, and whatever else I excel at and was hired to do and be.
On the 1st day of Christmas my workplace gave to me, hope for next year, to set goals for myself, make plans, and look forward to a new year at work.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Christmas party woes
The face of workplace Christmas parties is changing.
Last year, and the many years before it, the company Christmas party was the event of the season! The extravagant locations filled with banquets of food and lavish decor were the norm this time of year. Famous music bands were brought in to delight the workers all night long at outrageous costs to the company, with expensive gifts given, and glamorous outfits planned well in advance. Such extravagance has all but disappeared in 2009!
Company Christmas parties for this year have been brought down to a poverty level for some, and even cancelled for other workplaces. There are two fears this year, fears we have never had here before. Some parties have been forced to cancel due to the threat of H1N1. The chance of this illness spreading through an entire workforce and their families is real, and companies trying to protect their employees are canceling any social event that brings people together to hug and laugh and share space! Bosses are so terrified that the doors at work will be shut for weeks, with perhaps the vision of yellow “do not cross” tape blanketing the entrance, due to quarantine, instead of visions of sugarplums of the past. And we have the economic year from hell to add to the ghost of Christmas present.
Where did all the money go? Just last year we had tons of it in our city, and the many years previous, to spend on big bonuses and fun parties. We could book whatever we wanted for Christmas to celebrate our fantastic-ness.
So, we celebrate Christmas at work this year, with a donation to the food bank, or a Friday lunchtime potluck. There are no bonuses or surprises; no Christmas presents for all. Expensive bands are replaced with “rock band” where everyone can participate, while others companies resort to good old fashion karaoke!
I think we kind of deserve to have a cheap but creative Christmas party this year. Maybe that way, an extravagant Christmas in 2010 will be more appreciated.
Last year, and the many years before it, the company Christmas party was the event of the season! The extravagant locations filled with banquets of food and lavish decor were the norm this time of year. Famous music bands were brought in to delight the workers all night long at outrageous costs to the company, with expensive gifts given, and glamorous outfits planned well in advance. Such extravagance has all but disappeared in 2009!
Company Christmas parties for this year have been brought down to a poverty level for some, and even cancelled for other workplaces. There are two fears this year, fears we have never had here before. Some parties have been forced to cancel due to the threat of H1N1. The chance of this illness spreading through an entire workforce and their families is real, and companies trying to protect their employees are canceling any social event that brings people together to hug and laugh and share space! Bosses are so terrified that the doors at work will be shut for weeks, with perhaps the vision of yellow “do not cross” tape blanketing the entrance, due to quarantine, instead of visions of sugarplums of the past. And we have the economic year from hell to add to the ghost of Christmas present.
Where did all the money go? Just last year we had tons of it in our city, and the many years previous, to spend on big bonuses and fun parties. We could book whatever we wanted for Christmas to celebrate our fantastic-ness.
So, we celebrate Christmas at work this year, with a donation to the food bank, or a Friday lunchtime potluck. There are no bonuses or surprises; no Christmas presents for all. Expensive bands are replaced with “rock band” where everyone can participate, while others companies resort to good old fashion karaoke!
I think we kind of deserve to have a cheap but creative Christmas party this year. Maybe that way, an extravagant Christmas in 2010 will be more appreciated.
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