Michael Noble, owner of two prominent Calgary restaurants was recently forced to pay his staff of 140 people for New Year’s day despite neither location being open. Because new labour laws that went into effect that day, it requires employers to provide holiday pay regardless of whether an employee works it or not. For Noble, it cost him $11,000 in statutory holiday pay. This shows the struggle small businesses in Alberta face with these changes. Many businesses will have to likely look to cut staff and/or benefits because of this change, among other ways to cut costs.

Read more: New rules cost Calgary restaurateur $11K in stat holiday pay for staff