Is there a 4-day week in Canada?
No. Canada has no national 4-day week, and no law sets one. The nearest legal right is federal: under the Canada Labour Code, employees in federally regulated workplaces can request changes to their number of work hours, schedule or work location after 6 months of continuous employment. It is a right to ask, not a right to a shorter week.
In Ontario, Bill 55, the Four-Day Work Week Act, 2022, would create a commission to recommend a one-year pilot capping hours at 32 a week for some workers. It passed first reading on 7 December 2022 and was not taken further; the 43rd Parliament ended on 28 January 2025.
A few Canadian employees took part in 4 Day Week Global's 2022 trials, but the evidence for Canada itself is thin. The organiser's 2022 US/Ireland report covers 33 companies and 903 employees, mostly in the US and Ireland, and Canada made up 2% of the employees who completed both surveys. Its research page lists country reports for Australasia, the UK, the US and Ireland, South Africa and others, but none for Canada alone. No Canada-specific pilot results are available from that source.
Jobs in Canada
Community Manager - Exterminauts
Behaviour · Hybrid · Montreal, QC, Canada
4 Day Work Week (80%)Broadcast Manager
Behaviour · Hybrid · Montreal, QC, Canada
4 Day Work Week (80%)
Accounting Specialist
Novisto · Hybrid · Montréal, Canada
4 Day Work Week
Who offers a 4-day week in Canada
Behaviour
Leading video game studio behind Dead by Daylight, championing 4-day work weeks and creative freedom across 5 global studios with 1,300+ employees.
Transit
Transit is revolutionizing urban mobility with a navigation app trusted by millions, empowering car-free commutes through real-time transit data and seamless micromobility integration.
Saint Paul University
Bilingual Catholic university in Ottawa with a verified 28-hour Variable Work Week for administrative staff at full salary — ratified in the 2023 collective agreement.
Eidos Montreal
Award-winning game studio behind Deus Ex, Thief, and Tomb Raider, creating immersive experiences with flexible work arrangements and strong professional development support.
Tulip
Fast-growing SaaS company driving retail's digital transformation with cloud-based solutions, partnered with Apple and Salesforce to revolutionize omnichannel commerce.
Novisto
Enterprise ESG sustainability reporting and management platform helping public and private companies across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
How Canada compares
Canada, the labelled dot, against the other countries we cover.
Statutory paid leave
Joint 23rd longest of 26 countries, 10 days below the median of 20.
United Kingdom 28 to United States None
See all 26 countries
| Country | Days |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 28 |
| Austria | 25 |
| Denmark | 25 |
| Finland | 25 |
| France | 25 |
| Sweden | 25 |
| Iceland | 24 |
| Brazil | 22 |
| Portugal | 22 |
| Spain | 22 |
| Norway | 21 |
| Australia | 20 |
| Belgium | 20 |
| Germany | 20 |
| Ireland | 20 |
| Netherlands | 20 |
| New Zealand | 20 |
| Poland | 20 |
| Switzerland | 20 |
| Chile | 15 |
| South Africa | 15 |
| South Korea | 15 |
| Canada | 10 |
| Japan | 10 |
| Philippines | 5 |
| United States | None |
The legal minimum a year, in working days on a five-day week, before public holidays. Definitions differ: some countries set weeks or calendar days (converted here), the UK lets public holidays count and the United States has no national minimum. Each country page says what its number covers. No comparable figure for: Lithuania, United Arab Emirates.
Working in Canada
Working hours
Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey shows employed Canadians usually worked 35.6 hours a week at their main job in 2024: 39.8 for full-time workers (30 or more usual hours a week) and 16.6 for part-time workers (under 30). Averaged over all workers, including people absent that week, actual hours were 32.1. Under the Canada Labour Code, standard hours are 8 a day and 40 a week; the usual maximum is 48 hours a week, and overtime is paid at no less than 1.5 times the regular wage.
Paid leave and holidays
Under the Canada Labour Code, federally regulated employees get 2 weeks of vacation after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 consecutive years and 4 weeks after 10. Each province sets its own minimum. Ontario and British Columbia require 2 weeks, rising to 3 after 5 years. Alberta requires 2 weeks for each of the first 4 years, then 3 weeks after 5 consecutive years. Two weeks, or 10 working days, is the minimum in the federal system and in these three provinces.