Holiday temp jobs: where to look and what to check before saying yes
December 18, 4:40 p.m. Your phone buzzes: a cleaning company needs someone for three deep cleans before the Christmas parties, starting tomorrow morning. Do you say yes right away, or ask two or three questions first? Here's where to find holiday temporary jobs, what to check about the schedule and pay, and how to keep your phone ringing in January.
Who needs extra hands in December
In December, everything has to be done before the 24th. Clients host parties, offices close, the snow shows up and regular crews go on vacation. The result: lots of service businesses need extra hands for a few weeks.
Here are the trades where these needs come back most often, and what helps you get picked:
| Trade | What you'll be asked to do | What makes the difference |
|---|---|---|
| Residential and commercial cleaning | Deep cleans before parties, offices and halls after the office party | Being thorough, on time and comfortable working alone at a client's home |
| Delivery and logistics | Parcels, groceries, order picking in a warehouse | A valid driver's licence, a good back, no fear of icy stairs |
| Snow removal | Shovelling driveways and steps, helping on routes, running equipment | Being reachable at night, good boots, knowing how to drive in winter |
| Moving | House sales, seniors moving into residences, offices changing locations | Stamina, teamwork, taking care of clients' belongings |
Many of these jobs need neither a diploma nor a résumé: employers mostly want to know when you're free and where you can get to.
Do it now: write down the two or three trades on this list you could start next week. That's your target.
Where to look without losing your evenings
The fastest way is to let employers find you. On GPP Emploi, you create your profile for free in about 3 minutes, no résumé needed: what you're looking for, your trades, your area, your availability, your cards. Employers only see an anonymous profile. If they invite you, you accept or decline; if you decline, they'll never know who you are.
At the same time, browse the posted jobs and click « Postuler » (Apply) on the ones that fit you, with a short note if you like. Aiming for cleaning? Start with the residential cleaning page.
Three settings that make all the difference in December:
- The « Disponible maintenant » (Available now) button: your profile moves to the top of employers' lists for 48 hours. Perfect when you're free right away.
- Alerts: by email right away, or as a daily summary, and by text for very good matches (85% and up) and invitations. Never a text at night.
- Invitations: they're valid for 7 days. During the rush, answer the same day.
The old-school move still works: call the snow removal company in your neighbourhood. For more ways to get hired without a résumé, read our guide to finding a job without a résumé.
Do it now: create your profile tonight and turn on your alerts. Tomorrow morning, you'll already know if there's something for you.
The schedule: questions to ask before you say yes
A holiday temp job often comes with « we need you, fast ». Take two minutes to pin down the schedule. Nobody will hold it against you for asking whether you work on December 25. Your aunt, on the other hand, might hold it against you if you didn't ask.
Your checklist:
- The exact dates: planned first day and last day.
- Hours per day and per week, and any evening, night or weekend shifts.
- The key days: December 24, 25, 26 and 31, January 1.
- How you'll be told your schedule: the week before, or by text the night before?
- Travel time between two clients: is it paid?
- For snow removal: how does availability work during a storm?
Good to know: under Québec's Act respecting labour standards, an employee can refuse to work more than two hours beyond their usual daily schedule, or more than 14 hours in a 24-hour period. They can also refuse if they weren't told at least five days in advance that they'd be required to work, with exceptions, notably when the nature of the job requires staying on call (often the case in snow removal). Travel the employer requires counts as working time. And if you're called in and work fewer than three consecutive hours, you're generally entitled to an indemnity equal to three hours' pay (the law sets out some exceptions).
Do it now: copy this list into your phone's notes. Pull it out on your next call.
Pay: what you need to check
Temporary doesn't mean « discount ». Since May 1, 2026, Québec's general minimum wage is $16.60 an hour. And an employer can't pay you less than its other employees doing the same tasks in the same establishment solely because of your employment status (temporary, part-time).
The questions to ask, and the answers you want to hear:
| Your question | What you want to hear |
|---|---|
| What's the hourly rate? | A precise number, at least $16.60 |
| When is payday? | At regular intervals of no more than 16 days (your first pay can come up to one month after you start) |
| Do I get a pay slip? | Yes, showing hours, rate, deductions and net pay |
| What if I go over 40 hours in a week? | Extra hours are paid at time and a half (or as time off if you ask) |
| Is the trial day paid? | Yes: a trial period the employer requires is work |
For the holidays, remember this: under the Act respecting labour standards, December 25 and January 1 are statutory holidays. December 24, 26 and 31 are not, unless your contract or a collective agreement gives you more. The CNESST states that the right to statutory holidays applies whatever your employment status and however few days you've worked, as long as you're not absent without a valid reason or authorization on the working day before or after the holiday. The indemnity equals 1/20 of the wages earned during the 4 complete weeks of pay before the week of the holiday, so if you just started, it will be smaller. If you work on December 25, you get your pay for the day, plus the indemnity or a paid compensatory day off, to be taken within three weeks before or after. The employer chooses which.
To cover your basic rights, keep Labour standards in 10 points for the service trades handy. For a specific case, the CNESST is the organization to contact.
Do it now: ask for the rate and the date of your first pay in writing, even by text. One written answer beats three promises.
Red flags to spot before you accept
Most employers act in good faith. But December also brings offers that are too good to be true and fuzzy arrangements.
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Check the company's name and address | A job ad with no name, just a cell number |
| Get the rate, schedule and dates confirmed | « We'll figure out the pay at the end » |
| Ask who supplies the equipment and uniform | Paying up front for a « starter kit » or training |
| Get paid for your trial day | A free « test day » |
| Give your banking details once you're hired | Sending them before you even have an offer |
Watch your status, too. Paid « per delivery », using your own car, with no deductions at all? You may be treated as self-employed rather than as an employee. That changes your rights and your taxes: ask before you start.
On GPP Emploi, every job posting is checked automatically before it goes live (minimum wage, discriminatory criteria, signs of a scam), and businesses our team has checked display a « vérifié » (verified) badge.
Do it now: before your next yes, go over this table again. If two boxes on the right light up, pass.
Turning a temp job into a steady one
A three-week contract can be a way in. The business that saw you show up on time during the worst week of the year will remember you in January.
- Ask from day one: « What happens after the holidays? Do you have positions in January? » You'll know right away whether it's possible.
- Be the reliable one: arrive 10 minutes early, text if you're running late, leave the place clean. In services, that's what people remember.
- Ask for a reference before you leave, or for permission to give your supervisor's name.
- Update your profile: add the trade you just worked in, and your cards to your passport (driver's licence, first aid). The day your contract ends, turn on « Disponible maintenant ».
Good news: plenty of needs don't stop on January 2. Snow removal goes on all winter, and commercial cleaning picks up again when people return to the office. If you did good work, you already have a foot in the door.
Do it now: put a reminder in your calendar for your planned last day: « ask about January + reference ».
The bottom line
A good holiday job is a yes you give after five questions, not before. Get the schedule and pay in writing, then work as if it were the first week of a permanent job: that's often how it becomes one.
Frequently asked questions
Is December 26 a statutory holiday in Quebec?
No. Under the Act respecting labour standards, the statutory holidays in that period are December 25 and January 1. December 24, 26 and 31 are not, unless your employment contract or a collective agreement gives you more.
Do temporary workers get paid statutory holidays?
Yes. The CNESST states that the right to statutory holidays applies whatever your employment status and however few days you've worked. The main condition: don't be absent without a valid reason or authorization on the working day before or after the holiday.
How much am I paid if I work on December 25?
You get your regular pay for the hours worked. On top of that, the employer must pay you the statutory holiday indemnity or give you a paid compensatory day off within three weeks before or after. The employer chooses between the two.
Can an employer pay me less because I'm temporary?
No. The law prohibits paying an employee less than co-workers doing the same tasks in the same establishment solely because of their employment status. And the rate can never be below minimum wage, which has been $16.60 an hour since May 1, 2026.
Does a trial day have to be paid?
Yes. Under the Act respecting labour standards, a trial or training period required by the employer counts as working time. If you're offered a free test day, that's a red flag.
