Top 9 Paid Holidays in the US

It’s the most… wonderful tiiiiiime of the yeeeear!

But wait, do you pay employees for holidays or not?

Does a business have to pay employees for holidays?

Paid holidays are not required in the United States by any government regulations. This is because the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require an employer to pay employees for time that they do not work, such as for vacations or holidays.

But should you?

If you want to attract and retain talent, the short answer is: YES. 

Paid Holiday Averages in the United States

Employees in the US receive an average of 7.6 paid holidays, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the category “all full-time employees.” Professional and technical employees average 8.5 paid holidays. Clerical and sales employees average 7.7 paid holidays. Blue collar and service employees have, on average, 7.0 paid holidays.

A 2016 study of paid time off by the WorldatWork Association found that nine paid holidays was the norm in the United States.

Private Sector Paid Holiday Schedule in the U.S.

These are the most common paid holidays in a private sector organization’s paid holiday schedule. They will vary by the company based on the needs of the employees and the needs of the business.

For example, even companies that offer these paid holidays may have jobs that must work on the holidays. This is a necessity, or in some cases, a choice for profitability, in industries that serve customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.