SOURCE: Vacation Tracker TITLE: Use It or Lose It Vacation Policy in Canada URL: https://vacationtracker.io/blog/use-it-or-lose-it-vacation-policy-in-canada/ LANG: en PUBLISHED: 2019-06-28 UPDATED: 2025-06-18 AUTHOR: Aleksandra READING: 3 min TAGS: leave-management SUMMARY: Here’s a meta description using the keyword “use it or lose it vacation policy” naturally: ⸻ Meta Description: Learn how Canada’s vacation laws work, including why the use it or lose it vacation policy is illegal, how paid time off is earned, and what happens to unused leave. # Use It or Lose It Vacation Policy in Canada You’ve probably heard of Canada’s divine mountain rangers, glorious forests, and other extraordinary natural and man-made attractions the country has. It’s also known for hockey, maple syrup, and low unemployment rates (http://world.bymap.org/UnemploymentRates.html). Needless to say, living in Canada does sound like a dream come true. If you’re planning to move to Canada, or are already living there, you should be informed of all legal requirements (https://vacationtracker.io/blog/vacation-pto-legal-requirements-in-canada/) when it comes to PTO or any other kind of leave. ## Leave Quota in Canada The amount of days off you are legally entitled to in Canada is 10. Canada is also known as one of the countries that have the lowest number of paid time off throughout the year. To its residents, Canada grants up to 10 paid days off from work. And when we add 9 more days Canadians get due to public holidays, we come to a total amount of 19 paid days off from work per year. However, you must be wondering. What happens if I don’t use all the available days off? Do I lose them? We have some great news for you. Unlike in the USA, the “Use It or Lose It” policy is declared illegal in Canada. ### 1944 – Canada Introduces Vacation Legislation Somewhere around 1944, Canada enacted its first vacation legislation. Thanks to the legislation, vacations with pay have become a legal right for employees. However, the same rules don’t apply to the entire country. Each jurisdiction has its own legislation when it comes to vacation. This typically includes the rights behind earning vacation time, the minimum vacation days off you can take, the employer’s rights to schedule and forfeit vacation time, the obligation of vacation pay when employment is terminated, and more, depending on the jurisdiction. As mentioned above, most jurisdictions have a minimum vacation time of 10 days, however, there is an exception to this rule. Saskatchewan (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/canada/saskatchewan) offers a minimum of 3 weeks. Of course, the minimum entitlement may vary in different provinces. The number of available vacation time can be increased after a certain number of years of service. Another thing important to note is that most jurisdictions state the employee earns vacation days in the first year of employment and can use them in the following year. ## What Happens to Unused Vacation Days in Canada? First of all, you definitely should take some time off from work, as it has many benefits. However, let’s say you absolutely love working and can’t imagine a day when you aren’t going into the office. What happens in this case? Though rarely, these things can happen, and in that case, the employer has the right to determine for you when you’ll be taking a vacation (https://legalblogs.findlaw.ca/legal-business/can-you-force-employees-to-use-vacation-days-106/). ## Do Employers Have to Pay Out Vacation Upon Termination? When employment ends, and the proper termination notice is given, an employee is entitled to be paid the vacation pay that they’ve earned. It’s important to note that each province decides which earnings are “vacionable” and will be calculated for the vacation pay entitlement. In order to keep track of your used leave, it’s essential you use leave management software (https://vacationtracker.io/blog/6-benefits-of-using-a-leave-management-software), such as Vacation Tracker (https://vacationtracker.io/), so you can always be sure of the remaining days off. Vacation Tracker is designed to fit your company’s needs, no matter the niche you’re in. Easy to use and even easier to install, Vacation Tracker makes sure your team members are just minutes away from their well-deserved time off. And what’s even better, you can see it in action right away by scheduling your free consultation. Take the guesswork out of time off tracking. Know exactly who's off and when—no spreadsheets, no surprises. Get started (https://app.vacationtracker.io/signup) ![check](/static/img/icons/check.svg) No credit card required. Understanding the legal regulations concerning leave laws in Canada (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/canada) is very important, however, it may get a little confusing at times. Hopefully, our article has helped clear things up for you a little, and get a better understanding of leave laws in Canada. ## Frequently asked questions Q: Is a “use it or lose it” vacation policy legal in Canada? No, “use it or lose it” vacation policies are not legal in Canada. Federal and provincial employment standards require employers to provide the statutory minimum vacation time and pay. Employees cannot forfeit their minimum vacation entitlement if they do not use it within a set period. Employers must allow employees to take their accrued vacation or pay it out if unused. Q: What happens to unused vacation days at the end of the year in Canada? Unused statutory vacation days cannot be taken away. If an employee does not use their vacation within the year, the employer must carry it forward or pay it out. Some provinces allow employers to schedule vacation time for employees who have not taken it, but the entitlement itself cannot be lost.  Q: What happens to unused vacation pay when employment ends in Canada? When employment ends, employees are entitled to receive any accrued but unused vacation pay. Employers must pay out the full amount of earned vacation pay upon termination, regardless of company policy or the reason for leaving. This requirement is enforced across all provinces and federally regulated workplaces. Q: How much paid vacation are employees entitled to in Canada? Most Canadian employees receive a minimum of two weeks of paid vacation per year, increasing to three weeks after five years of service. Saskatchewan is an exception, offering a minimum of three weeks from the start. These minimums are set by provincial and federal employment standards legislation. Q: Can employers force employees to take vacation in Canada? Yes, employers can require employees to take their statutory vacation if it is not used within a certain period. However, employees cannot lose their statutory vacation entitlement due to non-use.