Employees of the federal government are entitled to 11 paid holidays per year.
Employers in the private sector may offer paid vacations, unpaid vacations, or holiday compensation for working on a holiday, but they are not compelled to do so.
Examine a list of federal holidays, as well as the dates on which each holiday will be honored in 2021 and 2022, as well as information on holiday time off and compensation.
This article gives a clearer view of the holidays you get paid in a full-time or a half-time job. Read on!
What are the Federal Holidays
The United States government observes federal holidays. While most government offices are closed on certain days, small businesses and other private employers might choose to remain open.
Businesses that close on federal holidays are not required to pay their employees for the day off, and those that remain open are not compelled to pay employees more for working normal hours.
In general, holidays are treated as regular workdays, and employees are paid for the time they work. When a federal holiday comes on a weekend, it is usually observed on the next business day.
These days are designated as federal holidays by the United States government:
- The first day of the new year
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is today.
- The Birthday of George Washington (also known as Presidents Day)
- Memorial Day is a national holiday in the United States
- National Independence Day is celebrated on June 19th.
- Independence Day is a national holiday in the United States
- Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States
- Columbus Day is a commemoration of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America.
- Veterans Day is observed on November 11th.
- Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays in the United
- The day after Christmas
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What Is Holiday Pay and How Does It Work?
Holiday pay is compensated for time worked on holidays, such as Christmas Day, or other times when a business is closed or an employee is allowed to take vacation time.
Unless you have a contract that specifies holiday pay, employers are not compelled to pay you extra for working on a holiday. Companies are also not compelled to provide you with time off for the holiday.
In general, if you work as a salaried employee, you will not be paid more for working on a holiday.
Holiday and weekend shifts are generally part of the normal work hours for retail and hospitality employees, thus they do not earn a special holiday rate.
Some employers offer vacation time or pay extra for working on a holiday; however, there are no federal or state rules requiring employers to reimburse employees for vacation time or pay extra for working on a holiday. Only if you have a contract that stipulates holiday pay is there an exemption.
Private businesses have a lot of leeways when it comes to benefits, and they can offer financial incentives to employees who choose to work during the holidays.
Independent contractors and independent workers can negotiate their own perks and set specific pricing for work completed on holidays with the companies that hire them.
Which days are Eligible for Holiday Pay?
Employees of the federal government are entitled to ten paid vacation days each year. If you work under a union contract, you may be entitled to compensation for some or all of the holidays you work.
Examine your offer letter and speak with your boss to see if you’ll be compensated for the following 10 standard holidays:
New Year’s Day: The first day of the calendar year, January 1, is commemorated on this holiday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: On January 20th of each year, this holiday commemorates the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
President’s Day is observed on the third Monday in February and commemorates the birth of former President George Washington.
Memorial Day celebrates those who have died while serving in the United States military. On the last Monday of May, it is served.
Independence Day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the United States of America on July 4, 1776.
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September and honors the American labor movement.
Columbus Day commemorates explorer Christopher Columbus’ landing in the Americas in 1492. On the second Monday in October, it is commemorated.
Veterans Day honors those who have served in the armed forces of the United States. Every year on November 11th, it is commemorated.
Thanksgiving Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of November to commemorate the entrance of pilgrims and puritans from England in the early 1600s, as well as their first harvest.
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
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Do Employees be Paid more if They Work on Holidays?
The amount you earn during the holidays is determined by what you and your employer have agreed to.
Although it is not compulsory to get paid extra on holidays, it is recommended that you learn about the holiday pay structure and have it in writing before accepting a job offer.
Because some part-time jobs are seasonal, you’ll be paid the same on holidays as you would on regular workdays.
Others may offer you double pay or time and a half for your holiday labor. Unless you work for the federal government, you must check your employer’s holiday policies.
What are the Advantages of Working Vacations?
Working holidays has numerous advantages, regardless of whether you work full-time or part-time. These are some of the advantages:
1. Overtime Compensation may be Available.
If your firm offers overtime compensation, you can earn up to 1.5 times your regular salary.
Companies with full-time employees may provide you paid vacation time, but this depends on the type of organization and industry you work in.
Before applying for a position, make sure you understand the types of hours that people in that business work.
For example, if you work in the hospitality business, you’re more likely to work longer hours, including late and weekend shifts.
2. Hard Labor is Rewarded.
If you willingly choose to work on a holiday, your employer will notice your efforts, which will be useful to your performance assessment.
Attempt to keep track of your overtime hours so that you can present them to your boss.
It has the potential to improve your problem-solving and leadership abilities.
Working throughout the holidays allows you to approach and address difficulties more efficiently.
If approached favorably, you may be remedied a customer’s complaint while also gaining great feedback for yourself and your firm. As a result, the likelihood of a promotion rises.
3. Fulfillment on a Personal Level
When you’re working during the holidays, helping others boosts your confidence and performance.
There may be more clients and work to perform, but the more tasks and encounters you finish, the more you may go home knowing that you gave a vital service when it was needed.
4. Flexibility in vacation/personal days
If you’re working on a holiday, you can usually save these days for later in the year.
You might choose to work on Memorial Day and Independence Day so that you can spend more time with your family throughout the holidays.
For your services to the firm, you may be awarded with additional vacation days, however this is at the discretion of your employer.
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How Much do you get Paid During the Holidays?
Calculating pay for your employees who are eligible to overtime might be difficult.
The crucial thing to remember is that overtime is calculated weekly under federal law.
This means that if your employee works more than 40 hours over a regular paid holiday week, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day, they are entitled to “time and a half.”
A daily overtime requirement exists in California and a few other states. If your employee works over eight hours in a day, they are entitled to “time and a half” for each hour worked over eight.
Assume you’re a California company with an employee who worked 10 hours on Christmas Day. According to state law, you must pay your employee for two hours of overtime.
Some firms may give double-time to employees working on holidays as an incentive, meaning their regular wage is twice by two.
While there is no federal requirement for double-time, California has double-time standards that apply if an employee works more than 12 hours in a single workday or for more than seven consecutive workdays.
FAQs
Paid holidays are paid days off that employers can grant to their employees on national, state, or religious holidays. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) solely controls minimum wage and overtime compensation, therefore there is no federal regulation requiring companies to provide paid holidays to their employees.
While there is no particular data on paid holidays, both employees and employers routinely rank paid time off and vacation time as among the most valuable perks. Many employees expect paid vacations and holidays as part of their benefits package.
They are as follows:
- Productivity increases
- Increased participation
- Improved physical health
- Employer image that is positive
The following are the most prevalent paid holidays in all industries:
- Memorial Day is a national holiday in the United States
- Independence Day is a national holiday in the United States
- Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States
- Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays in the United
- The day after Christmas
- The first day of the new year
Time and a half pay is paid at a rate that is 50% higher than the employee’s regular pay rate. This means that for every hour of overtime an employee works, you must pay them half of their usual compensation.
Double-time compensation is equal to the employee’s regular rate multiplied by two. This means you pay twice as much for each hour of overtime the person works.
Reference
- https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-are-paid-holidays-in-the-u-s-1918150
- https://www.rocketlawyer.com/business-and-contracts/employers-and-hr/compensation-and-time-off/legal-guide/federal-holidays-and-overtime-pay-how-to-calculate-time-and-a-half
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