Working on a Holiday? We Have the Information You Need on Holiday Pay Laws and More

If you’re working on a holiday, chances are you’re a bit disappointed. Holiday work can put a damper on anyone’s festive spirit, but there can be silver linings to working on holidays. Depending on your workplace, you may be eligible for extra compensation, and there are also other hidden benefits.

How much is holiday pay? We have the details on holiday pay laws and tips for holiday work, including how to get through the day and how to appreciate the potential advantages.

Who Needs to Work on Holidays?

If you’ve been assigned to work a holiday shift, your first question may be “why?” Laws regarding holiday work, like most legal issues in the U.S., exist on both the federal and state level, but unfortunately, offer few protections to avoid working on those days.

Federally, there are no laws barring holiday work, with the exception of federal employees on federal holidays. Even federal employees might need to work, however, if their work is deemed essential (protective services, for example, fall into this category).

Similarly, most states don’t require time off on holidays except for state employees on state holidays (just like federal employees, they may also need to work if they’re considered essential workers). Therefore, with a few exceptions, any company can require you to work holidays, but it’s more common in certain industries, such as:

• protective services
• hospital workers, both healthcare workers and those in supporting roles
• retail workers, especially in grocery stores
• restaurant staff, especially in restaurants that serve holiday meals
• travel industry staff, for example in accommodations and transportation

When Are the Federal Holidays?

Federal and state laws can also differ in what days are considered official holidays, although there are many similarities. The federal holidays are:

• New Year's Day
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Washington's Birthday (also called President’s Day)
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Independence Day (also called July 4)
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Private employers who offer paid holidays or holiday pay often follow local state holidays, or, if they have employees in multiple states, federal holidays, but they don’t have to. For religious holidays not on the schedule (whether you’re a public or private employee), federal law requires employers with more than 15 employees to make reasonable accommodations for religious observances, but the specifics are open to interpretation. Some companies give each employee a couple of days off a year at a time of their own choosing, sometimes called floating holidays or personal days.

How does holiday pay work? Most employees have a detailed written policy describing both what holidays employees are off work and how much they get paid for working holidays. Keep in mind that if you’re a contractor, as opposed to an employee, you’re likely excluded from this and other benefits. It’s also common that policies exclude temporary workers, workers who were recently hired, or part-time workers if the holiday doesn’t fall on their assigned workday.

How Much Is Holiday Pay?

When holiday pay is offered, common pay for holidays in the private section is 1.5 times your typical pay.

But is holiday pay mandatory? It usually is for government employees. Just like holidays off, holiday pay laws are regulated both on the state and federal level. Federal workers typically get double the pay if they have to work holidays, and state workers are paid according to state regulations.

How Does Holiday Pay Work in the Private Sector?

Most states don’t require private employers to offer extra pay, but there are a few exceptions. Companies may choose to do offer holiday pay because it’s a good recruitment strategy and because it increases worker job satisfaction. Others may be required to do so due to collective bargaining agreements with labor unions.

Do Salaried Employees Get Holiday Pay?

Salaried employees are exempt, which means they receive an annual salary instead of pay based on the number of hours they work. If the employer gives them the day off, salaried employees must therefore get their regular pay. If you’re exempt and working on a holiday, you will get extra pay if the company has a holiday pay policy. Salaried employees are also not eligible for overtime.

Holiday Pay for Hourly Employees

Hourly workers are typically non-exempt. This means that they get paid for the amount of work they perform. The law doesn’t generally require holiday pay for hourly employees (with a few state exceptions) or that they get the day off.

When it comes to overtime, holiday time off doesn’t count towards overtime since you’re not working. However, if you happen to work on a holiday, it’s treated as regular day for overtime purposes. Keep this in mind if you are offered or volunteer to take on additional hours for overtime pay to make up for other employees requesting a holiday off.

Alternatives to Working on a Holiday

Whether you’re receiving holiday pay or not, you may feel reluctant to work on a holiday. If you’ve been assigned to work despite your wishes, you have a few choices:

• Find someone willing to take your shift. Finding coverage can be an option if you’re an hourly employee and there are others who perform the same duties as you and want to get overtime pay.
• Ask your supervisor for the day off. Taking holidays off can be unpaid or paid leave, depending on your benefits.

If those options aren’t realistic, your best bet is to make the best of working on holidays and look at the positives, which will make the day easier to get through.

4 Benefits of Working on a Holiday

There are benefits of working on a holiday besides the potential for overtime or holiday pay. These are four examples of holiday work perks:

1. More recognition: If you work on a holiday when many of your colleagues are off, you might take on more responsibilities than usual, depending on your profession and workplace. This could shine the spotlight on you, which could be important when management is considering raises, bonuses, and promotions.
2. Networking opportunities: Likewise, working holidays could offer unique networking opportunities by giving your more visibility than usual, if you’re at work at the same time as people you want to connect with.
3. Extra perks: If you work in the service industry, chances are you’ll see some extra tips on holidays. If you work in another sector, or if your job doesn’t include tips, you might still get small gifts, food, and other perks, for example from your employer, customers, patients, or clients.
4. Avoiding holiday hassle: Rescheduling holiday celebrations to a different day can have its benefits, like more time to prepare, access to post-holiday discounts and tickets, and the ability to avoid the stress of holiday travel.

Tips for Working on a Holiday

There are several steps you can take to make working on a holiday more enjoyable, besides appreciating the potential benefits. Here are a few tips for making the most of holiday work:

• If you don’t want to reschedule the celebration, ask your supervisor if you can start early so you can finish your shift early. You can also prepare the day before, especially if you’re serving dinner.
• Consider making the holiday more enjoyable for everyone at work by bringing some treats or snacks, wearing festive clothing, or creating a holiday work tradition, such as a donation drive to a food bank.
• Take advantage of more uninterrupted or quiet time by tackling some tasks you’ve been trying to check off your list.
• Let go of perfection when it comes to the holiday celebration, whether that means reducing the menu, the decorations, or something else on your to-do list. Whether you’re the guest or the host, chances are the time together is more important than stressing out over details or celebrating on a particular calendar day.

Find a Job With Good Holiday Benefits on Monster

Look for a job where you won’t be working on a holiday next year or for a workplace with better benefits that values work-life balance on Monster. Even if you’re happy at your job, create a Monster profile to get regular career advice in your inbox or to keep your eyes open for new career opportunities, so you can enjoy more quality time with family and friends.