Earlier this year, a new Federal Statutory Holiday was announced by the Canadian Federal government — September 30th — The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This federal statutory holiday is to ensure the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation provides the opportunity to Canadians to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.
But what does this mean for employers in Alberta? It is currently up to each province and territory to decide if it will follow the federal government's lead and make the day a recognized holiday.
Although there are some organizations already adopting the new statutory holiday, such as The Calgary Board of Education, not every organization has clarity on how to handle the introduction of a new statutory holiday.
"Our clients are looking for answers about adding the new federally introduced statutory holiday because the Alberta government has left the decisions up to the employer..." , says Wendy Giuffre, President and Principal Consultant of Wendy Ellen Inc. "We think it is the perfect time for our clients to show that they are leaders in their industries. It is an excellent opportunity to not only remember the tragedies of the residential schools but set the bar for other employers and influence your peers along the way."
Are you looking for advice on how to address the new statutory holiday within your organization? Reach out to our experts at Wendy Ellen Inc. to assist with all your organization's HR practices.
