Is Holiday Pay Mandatory In Your State?

Holiday pay is not mandated by law for workers in the private sector in most states in the US, though many companies provide some form of holiday pay to reduce employee turnover and improve morale. The United States has no federal law requiring private companies to offer holiday pay, and it's only required for federal employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in March 2022 that private employees in the U.S. receive an average of eight paid holidays per year. If employees are represented by a union, then any holiday pay will be included in their collective bargaining agreement. Massachusetts is unique in that it currently requires premium pay on Sundays and holidays for non-exempt retail employees. On January 1, 2023, retail employers are no longer required to provide Sunday and holiday premium pay rates to employees. Private Sector employees may not get the same 11 days that Federal employees do; however, there are 6-8 that are typically provided (never required), and the rest is up to the employer if they want to include more.