U.S. Public Holidays: Which Days Off You Actually Get

U.S. public holidays set the rhythm of the American work calendar, but if you're arriving from Australia or another country, the first thing to know is that almost none of them are days off by law. The US has 11 federal holidays. They're the baseline most workplaces build around, but whether you get any of them off, and whether you're paid for them, comes down to your employer.

How time off works in the U.S.

• Your employer decides, not the government. The federal list applies to federal workers; private companies follow it loosely. Banks, government offices, and the post office close on every federal holiday, while shops, restaurants, and hospitals usually stay open.
• No holiday is paid by law. There's no national rule requiring private employers to give paid holidays, or any paid time off at all (often shortened to PTO in offer letters). What you actually get is whatever your offer letter or company handbook spells out.
• Some holidays are near-universal, some aren't. Almost every office closes for New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The rest depend on the company and the industry.
• Floating holidays cover the gaps. A floating holiday is a paid day off you choose when to take, rather than one fixed to a date. Employers often give one or two, so you can spend a day on a holiday your office doesn't close for, or on something that matters more to you.
• Weekend holidays shift. When a fixed-date holiday like July 4 lands on a Saturday, most workplaces take the Friday before; when it lands on a Sunday, the Monday after.

1. New Year's Day

New Year's Day is January 1, and almost every employer gives it. It follows New Year's Eve, the bigger social occasion, so the day itself is quiet, and offices reopen on January 2 or the following Monday. The first week back tends to run slow as people return from year-end time off.

2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the third Monday of January, marking the birthday of the civil rights leader. It's observed as a national day of service, with volunteering and community events rather than a standard long weekend. Schools and federal offices close, while private-sector observance is uneven: larger tech and finance firms are more likely to give it than smaller employers.

3. Presidents' Day

Presidents' Day falls on the third Monday of February. Its official name is Washington's Birthday, but it's now treated as a general recognition of U.S. presidents. Banks and government offices close and many office workers get a long weekend, while most shops stay open and run sales.

4. Memorial Day

Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May and honors Americans who lost their lives in military service. It also marks the unofficial start of summer, and it's widely observed, so most workplaces close for the long weekend. It's distinct from Veterans Day, which honors everyone who has served.

5. Juneteenth

Juneteenth is June 19, commemorating the end of slavery in the US, specifically the day in 1865 when the news reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. It became a federal holiday in 2021, the newest on the list, and private-sector observance is still growing. Many companies now close, especially in tech, while others haven't adopted it yet, so confirm rather than assume.

6. Independence Day

Independence Day is July 4, marking U.S. independence from Britain in 1776. It's one of the most widely observed holidays, commonly celebrated with fireworks and barbecues, and almost every workplace closes. Many offices also run quiet for the surrounding week, so it's a slow time to start a new job.

7. Labor Day

Labor Day falls on the first Monday of September and honors the labor movement and US workers. It marks the unofficial end of summer and is widely observed as a long weekend, pairing with Memorial Day as the bookends of the season.

8. Columbus Day

Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October, originally marking Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. It's increasingly contested, and a growing number of states and cities observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead, or alongside it. Banks, post offices, and federal offices close, but most private workplaces stay open, so confirm rather than assume.

9. Veterans Day

Veterans Day is November 11 and honors everyone who has served in the U.S. military, living or deceased, which sets it apart from Memorial Day. The date will be familiar to Australians, since it shares its origin with Remembrance Day: the 1918 armistice that ended World War I. Federal offices and banks close, but because it usually falls mid-week, many private employers work through it or offer it as a floating day.

10. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November and is one of the most widely observed US holidays, centered on a large family meal, traditionally turkey, eaten in the afternoon but still called "dinner." Nearly everyone closes, and most employers give the Friday after too, even though it isn't a federal holiday. It's the busiest travel period of the year, so book early if you're going anywhere.

11. Christmas Day

Christmas Day is December 25, and like Thanksgiving almost everything closes. Many offices also wind down or close for the week between Christmas and New Year's, sometimes as company-wide time off that doesn't draw on your own vacation days. Two things stand out for Australians: a U.S. Christmas falls in winter rather than summer, and it's when many people travel home, so plan early, especially in your first year, when newer staff have the least say over scheduling.

Holidays your employer might add

Beyond the 11 federal holidays, some employers give a few extra days of their own, usually as floating holidays. Good Friday, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve are the common ones. None are federal holidays, so whether you get them depends entirely on the company.

Because your time off comes down to the employer rather than the law, the company you choose makes a real difference to your work-life balance.

Frequently asked questions