Public holidays: federal, state and workplace practices in the United States

Introduction: Why public holidays matter

Public holidays shape civic life, workplace schedules and travel plans. Understanding how public holidays are set and observed is important for employees, employers and anyone planning around long weekends. In the United States, observance is determined at federal, state and local levels, and employer practices influence whether workers receive paid time off.

Main details: How public holidays are set and observed

Federal, state and local roles

Federal holidays are designated by the federal government, but states and municipalities can create additional public holidays. Major federal holidays commonly observed by large companies include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. States may add observances of their own.

Employer practices and paid time off

Employers—particularly private-sector employers—are generally not legally required by federal law to give employees paid time off for public holidays. Practices vary by employer: some close on major dates, some grant paid leave, and others treat holidays as unpaid. Some employers count public holidays as part of an employee’s annual paid time off (PTO), which reduces the remaining personal leave available.

Non-federal but widely observed dates

Many businesses also close or offer time off for dates that are not federal holidays, such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve and the day after Thanksgiving (often called Black Friday). By contrast, holidays like Halloween and Valentine’s Day are widely celebrated culturally but rarely include paid leave.

Notable state examples

Individual states have introduced specific observances: Colorado in 2020 became the first state to establish a paid state holiday honouring a woman, designating the first Monday in October as Frances Xavier Cabrini Day. Some states observe Election Day or similar dates as a public holiday—for example, November 5 (Election Day) is treated as a holiday in some jurisdictions such as Illinois to facilitate voting.

Planning resources

International and local holiday listings, such as those provided by PublicHolidays.global, can help individuals and organisations plan ahead for local festivities and long weekends.

Conclusion: What readers should take away

Public holiday observance in the United States varies by law and employer policy. Readers should check federal, state and local calendars and confirm their employer’s holiday and PTO rules. With varied practices and growing employer flexibility—such as swapping holidays to suit cultural needs—planning platforms and clear workplace policies help individuals make the most of public holidays.