Vacation pay · the federal jurisdiction
the federal jurisdiction vacation pay.
How much vacation pay you are owed in the federal jurisdiction, and how many weeks of vacation time your years of service entitle you to.
Federally regulated employees get two weeks and 4% after one year, three weeks and 6% after five consecutive years, and four weeks and 8% after ten.
The four-week, 8% tier is unique to the federal jurisdiction — no province or territory has one. Pay is calculated by period, so earnings before and after each anniversary attract different rates.
Inputs
Your vacation entitlement
Fill the form and press Calculate.
How the federal jurisdiction vacation entitlement steps up
| Length of service | Vacation time | Vacation pay |
|---|---|---|
| From the first year up to 5 years | 2 weeks | 4% |
| 5 years up to 10 years | 3 weeks | 6% |
| 10 years and over | 4 weeks | 8% |
The federal jurisdiction is the only one in Canada with a four-week, 8% tier. Entitlement begins after one year of continuous employment at two weeks and 4%; five consecutive years with the same employer takes it to three weeks and 6%; ten consecutive years takes it to four weeks and 8%.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Government of Canada — Vacation and general holidays, federal labour standards.
Frequently asked questions
How much vacation do federally regulated employees get?
Two weeks and 4% after one year of continuous employment, three weeks and 6% after five consecutive years, and four weeks and 8% after ten consecutive years with the same employer.
The four-week, 8% tier is unique in Canada — no province or territory has one.
How is federal vacation pay calculated across a tier change?
By period. Wages earned before the fifth anniversary attract 4%, wages earned between five and ten years attract 6%, and wages earned after ten years attract 8%.
It is not applied retroactively to earlier periods, unlike Manitoba’s fifth-year top-up, which does reach back a year.
When do I get four weeks of vacation?
After ten consecutive years with the same employer, in a federally regulated workplace.
The word is consecutive: unlike the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, which count non-continuous years within a ten-year window, the federal tiers turn on consecutive service.
Does federal vacation pay apply in my first year?
Vacation entitlement begins after one year of continuous employment. Vacation pay accrues on the wages earned in that year and is paid with the vacation.
If employment ends before the vacation is taken, the accrued vacation pay is still owed.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This calculator produces an estimate from the published employment-standards minimums. It is not legal advice and it is not a determination of what you are owed. Vacation entitlement in the federal jurisdiction is set by the Labour Program at Employment and Social Development Canada.
Collective agreements, employment contracts, exemptions for your occupation, averaging agreements and permits can all change the answer. For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.