What are the public holidays in the USA?

In the United States, public holidays are mandated only for federal employees. There is no legal requirement for private sector employers to observe public holidays or provide time off. Employers have the discretion to decide which holidays, if any, they choose to recognize and provide time off for their employees.

Federal Public Holidays for 2024

Here are the federal public holidays for 2024:

Monday, January 1, 2024 - New Year's Day
Monday, January 15, 2024 - Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 19, 2024 - Washington's Birthday
Monday, May 27, 2024 - Memorial Day
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - Juneteenth National Independence Day
Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Independence Day
Monday, September 2, 2024 - Labor Day
Monday, October 14, 2024 - Columbus Day
Monday, November 11, 2024 - Veterans Day
Thursday, November 28, 2024 - Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 - Christmas Day

Commonly Observed Holidays

While not legally required, many businesses choose to observe the following common holidays and provide Paid Time Off (PTO) for their employees:

December 31 - New Year’s Eve
January 1 - New Year’s Day
May 30 - Memorial Day (last Monday of May)
July 4 - Independence Day
September 5 - Labor Day
November 24 - Thanksgiving Day
November 25 - Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday)
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25 - Christmas Day

Employer Discretion

Employers have full discretion to determine which holidays they observe and whether to provide time off or holiday pay. This allows companies to tailor their holiday policies to fit their business needs and the preferences of their workforce.

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United States of America

What are the public holidays in the USA?

Federal Public Holidays for 2024

Commonly Observed Holidays

Employer Discretion