Stéphanie FournierSaint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Quebec’s national holiday, falls on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Across the province, shoppers are already searching "ouvert fermé 24 juin" to find out which stores, services, and government offices will be open. For workers and employers, the day also brings distinct payroll rules that differ from every other statutory holiday in Quebec.
What closes on June 24 in Quebec?
Most government offices, schools, banks, and post offices close for the Fête nationale. Municipal services such as the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal have announced their offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, while emergency call centres remain open for urgent tenant issues.
Large retailers are also posting holiday schedules. SAIL, a major outdoor and sporting goods chain in Quebec, lists Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, as a closed day for its Quebec stores. Grocery stores, shopping malls, and most non-essential businesses typically follow the same pattern, though gas stations, convenience stores, hotels, and some restaurants often remain open with reduced hours.
Public transit runs on a reduced schedule in many areas and may not operate at all in rural regions. Anyone planning travel or errands on June 24 should check local schedules before heading out.
Why June 24 has its own employment law
Unlike other Quebec statutory holidays, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is governed by the National Holiday Act. This creates rules that do not apply to Canada Day, Labour Day, or Christmas. The Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) confirms that the holiday applies to almost all workers in Quebec, with only a narrow exception for some federally regulated employees whose entitlement depends on a collective agreement.
The most important difference is eligibility. For every other paid statutory holiday in Quebec, employers can deny the indemnity if a worker is absent without valid reason on the working day before or after the holiday. For June 24, the sole requirement is that the employee is employed on the day itself. That means a worker cannot lose the holiday simply because of an unauthorized absence on June 23 or June 25.
How holiday pay is calculated
Quebec statutory holiday pay is calculated as 1/20 of the wages earned during the four complete pay weeks before the holiday week. Overtime premiums are excluded. For workers paid partly or wholly by commission, the formula switches to 1/60 of wages earned during the 12 complete pay weeks before the holiday.
Reported tips also count toward the calculation, but undeclared tips do not. An employee who earns $4,000 in the four qualifying weeks would be entitled to a $200 indemnity, whether they work on June 24 or not.
If an employee must work on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, the employer must pay regular wages for the hours worked plus either the statutory indemnity or a paid compensatory day off. The employer chooses between the two, but the choice must be applied consistently and documented.
The special rule for compensatory time off
For most Quebec statutory holidays, a compensatory day off can be taken within three weeks before or after the holiday. For the Fête nationale, the window is much tighter. When an employer grants a compensatory day off instead of the indemnity, it must be taken on the employee’s usual working day immediately before or after June 24, unless the holiday falls during annual vacation, in which case the date is agreed between employer and employee.
This compressed schedule often catches small businesses off guard. Retailers, restaurants, and health-care clinics that stay open on June 24 must plan staffing and payroll well in advance to avoid a compliance gap.
What happens when June 24 falls on a Sunday?
In 2026, June 24 is a Wednesday, so the Sunday rule does not apply. Still, employers should know the rule for future years. If June 24 falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Monday, June 25, for employees who do not normally work on Sundays. Employees whose regular schedule includes Sunday observe the holiday on June 24 as usual.
Because the 2026 holiday lands midweek, most Monday-to-Friday workers will simply have Wednesday off. Businesses that operate seven days a week must apply the standard worked-holiday rules to any staff scheduled for June 24.
When to consult an employment law expert
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is one of the most commonly misunderstood payroll events in Quebec. The National Holiday Act creates eligibility and compensatory-leave rules that do not match the rest of the calendar, and the distinction between provincial and federally regulated employees adds another layer of complexity. Mistakes can lead to CNESST complaints, back-pay orders, and penalties.
You should speak with an employment lawyer or human-resources consultant if you are unsure whether a worker qualifies, how to calculate commission-based holiday pay, or how to schedule a compensatory day off within the strict June 24 window. The same applies if you believe your employer has denied a benefit you are owed.
Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information, not legal advice. Employment law is fact-specific, and a qualified professional can review your contract, collective agreement, and pay records before you make any decision.
If your business needs help with statutory-holiday compliance, consult an employment law expert through Expert Zoom. For official guidance on the National Holiday Act, visit Éducaloi’s public-holidays page.
