Do private employers have to give federal holidays off?
Last checked 2026-11-15T00:00:00.000Z
No. Federal holidays apply to federal government employees. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require private employers to give time off on holidays, to pay for time off, or to pay extra for working on a holiday. Paid holidays are a benefit employers choose to offer.
What most employers offer
Most full-time workers at medium and large companies still get paid holidays. The usual core set is six days, often called the big six:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
Many employers add the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or one or two floating holidays that workers pick themselves. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day and Juneteenth are common at larger employers. Columbus Day and Veterans Day are the least common in the private sector.
Exceptions and limits
- Contracts and union agreements can require holidays and holiday pay, and those terms are enforceable.
- Government contractors working under certain federal service contracts must give the holidays named in the contract.
- Religious accommodation. Title VII requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious observance, such as a day off for a religious holiday, unless it causes undue hardship. That usually means unpaid or PTO time, not an extra paid day.
- State law. Some states regulate retail opening on certain holidays or require premium pay in specific industries. Rhode Island and Massachusetts have the best-known rules for retail work on Sundays and some holidays.
What to check
Your offer letter or employee handbook should list the paid holidays, what happens when a holiday falls on a weekend, whether part-time staff are covered, and whether you must work the days before and after to be paid.
Once you know your company’s list, enter it in the PTO planner to see where your vacation days go furthest.