Vacation Pay When Quitting in Alberta: What You’re Owed

Do You Get Vacation Pay If You Quit Your Job In Alberta?

Yes — you are legally entitled to any vacation pay you’ve earned, even if you quit your job.

Your employer must pay out:

• Any earned but unpaid vacation pay
• Any vacation pay that has been accrued but not yet used

What Happens to Vacation Pay When You Quit?

When you leave your job — whether you resign or are let go — your employer must:

• Calculate your total vacation pay
• Pay out any remaining balance

This applies to:

• Full-time employees
• Part-time employees
• Temporary workers

When Does Your Employer Have to Pay Your Vacation Pay?

In Alberta, your employer must pay your vacation pay:

• Within 7 days after your last day of work, or
• On your next regular payday

How Much Vacation Pay Should You Receive?

Your vacation pay is based on:

• Your total wages
• Your length of employment

Standard Rates:

• 4% of wages (less than 5 years)
• 6% of wages (5+ years)

What If You Already Received Vacation Pay on Each Paycheque?

Some employers include vacation pay in every paycheque.

If that’s the case:

• You may not be owed additional vacation pay at the end
• But your employer must still ensure everything was calculated correctly

Can an Employer Refuse to Pay Vacation Pay After You Quit?

No — employers can’t legally withhold earned vacation pay.

If they do:

• It may violate Alberta’s Employment Standards Code
• You may be able to recover unpaid wages

What If Your Vacation Pay Was Calculated Incorrectly?

Common mistakes include:

• Using the wrong percentage (4% vs 6%)
• Leaving out commission or bonuses
• Misclassifying your employment status

Even small errors can result in lost income over time.

Does Quitting Affect Your Right to Severance?

Vacation pay is separate from severance.

If you were:

• Force to resign
• Constructively dismissed
• Pressured to quit

You may still be entitled to severance.

FAQ: Vacation Pay When Quitting in Alberta

Do you lose vacation pay if you quit?

No — you are still entitled to all earned vacation pay.

What if I didn’t take my vacation days?

You must still be paid for any unused vacation time.

How do I know if my employer paid me correctly?

Check:

• Your total earnings
• Your vacation pay rate
• Whether all wages were included

Can my employer delay payment?

No — vacation pay must be paid within the legal timeframe.

Think Your Employer Didn’t Pay You Properly?

If you didn’t receive your full vacation pay after quitting, you could be owed compensation.

This is especially important if:

• You were recently let go
• You suspect errors in your final pay
• You were pressured to resign

At Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, our employment lawyers in Alberta can review your situation and explain your options.