Nova Scotia Health Holiday Scheduling and Compensation

Nova Scotia Health (NSH) has released a memo outlining how holidays are scheduled and compensated. However, the information provided in the memo is not accurate and is a violation of the collective agreement.

If your regular schedule has you working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day you should be paid at 1.5X your hourly rate and hour-for-hour off to be banked for use later for all hours worked (2.5X total compensation). If you are required to work beyond your regular hours, you should be paid overtime on a holiday day. Overtime on a holiday is paid at 2.33X your hourly rate and hour-for-hour off to be banked for use later on for all hours worked (3.33X total compensation). If you are required to work in addition to your regular shift, you should be paid 2.5X total compensation or 3.33X total compensation depending on if your specific circumstances put you into an overtime situation.

If your schedule shows that you are scheduled off Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day as a paid holiday (HOL), and you are then required to work, you are entitled to the premium pay at 2.5X total compensation or 3.33X times total compensation depending on if your specific circumstances put you into an overtime situation.

If your schedule shows that you are on a rest day (regular day off) Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day, the holiday with pay is moved to either the day after your rest days, the day after vacation, or another day that is mutually agreed. If you do not agree to a different day off with pay, the holiday with pay is after your rest days or vacation. If you are then required to work on the day the holiday is moved to, you are entitled to the premium holiday pay, or overtime on a holiday depending on your specific circumstances. However, if the holiday with pay is moved and you are then required to work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day you will be compensated at straight time or overtime whichever is applicable to your specific circumstances.

Should you have any questions or concerns about how you are scheduled and compensated for the upcoming holidays, please contact the union (call 902-424-4063 or 1-877-556-7438, or email inquiry@nsgeu.ca).