Winter is fast approaching, bringing with it a host of statutory holidays in Canada and public holidays in the United States. While this winter season will certainly be different than those in the past due to COVID-19, organizations should still anticipate vacation requests from employees (whether they are working remotely or socially distanced onsite) looking to mark the holidays – even if that means staying home to spend time with loved ones, rather than traveling to far-flung destinations.
At the same time, employers are sure to face an uptick in unplanned absences related to both COVID-19 and seasonal flu, making it crucial to think ahead about strategies to keep business moving forward amid the staffing challenges that the season may present.
First on the list of winter holidays in Canada is Christmas Day, which falls on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. Christmas Day is observed throughout Canada, and many employees seek time off in the days before and after this holiday.
On Saturday, Dec. 26., 2020, comes Boxing Day, a stat holiday for federally regulated workers in Canada, as well as some provinces and territories. Employees who don’t fall into those groups, however, often request this day off.
New Year’s Day comes on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Like Christmas Day, employees often request time off in the days before and after this holiday.
The last stat holiday of the winter season is Family Day, which is observed on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.
|
Holiday |
Date Observed |
Region Observed |
|
Christmas Day |
Dec. 25, 2020 |
National |
|
Boxing Day |
Dec. 26, 2020 |
NB, NL, NT, NU, ON |
|
New Year’s Day |
Jan. 1, 2021 |
National |
|
Day After New Year’s Day |
Jan. 2, 2021 |
QC |
|
Family Day |
Feb. 15, 2021 |
AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS, PEI |
In the US, the first public holiday of winter is Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Many organizations give their employees this day off, and employees often request days before and after Thanksgiving to stretch their holiday celebration.
Many time-off requests also are made in the days before and after Christmas (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), which come second and third on the list of winter holidays in the US.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2021. The holiday was established to honor Martin Luther King Jr., a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the US.
The majority of U.S. states will observe President’s Day on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The was established to celebrate the birthday of George Washington, the first US president. In some states, it honors both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who was president during the US Civil War.
|
Holiday |
Date Observed |
Region Observed |
|
Thanksgiving |
Nov. 26, 2020 |
National |
|
Christmas Day |
Dec. 25, 2020 |
National |
|
New Year’s Day |
Jan.1, 2021 |
National |
|
Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
Jan. 18, 2021 |
National |
|
Lincoln’s Birthday |
Feb. 12, 2021 |
Only states: CT, IL, MO, NY |
|
President’s Day |
Feb. 15, 2021 |
All states except DE, FL, GA, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, NM, NC, OH, RI and WI |
|
Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras |
Feb. 16, 2021 |
Only states: AL, FL, LA, MS |
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