Holt Renfrew gets Grinch tag for holiday shuffle

Last Updated: Friday, November 30, 2007 | 9:10 AM ET

CBC News

One of the most exclusive retailers in downtown Toronto has found a way to avoid giving its employees the extra holiday next year.

Holt Renfrew has told employees they'll get Ontario's new February holiday, but will no longer receive the August long weekend off.
 
The promise of the new holiday came in the middle of the recent Ontario election campaign. And the first action of the new Liberal government was to declare the third Monday in February as Family Day — a winter long weekend.

But although they'll get to enjoy Family Day, employees at Holt Renfrew will have to give up a long weekend in August. 
 
The holiday usually enjoyed by workers on the first Monday in August is not a statutory holiday.

Holt Renfrew is only required to provide its employees with nine extra days off per year. In Ontario, the addition of Family Day makes that 10.

"That's just cheap," said one customer. "If people need a holiday, they need a holiday, whether it's February or August. It's cheap to sort of manipulate them and take one and remove the other," said one woman. "It's really Grinchy."

Labour Minister Brad Duguid was quick to look on the bright side, downplaying that some companies may tell employees to swap a long weekend in the summer for a long weekend in the middle of winter.

"I think it's a terrific initiative and 83 per cent of Ontarians agree it's something this province should be doing," said Duguid, "Well the holidays outside of the nine public holidays are negotiated municipally or between employers and employees."
 
Holt Renfrew's employees refuse to speak on the record because they say they're worried about their jobs. The company isn't talking either.