Federal Holiday Etiquette

Federal Holiday Etiquette

Holidays are days set apart by tradition or by government where normal daily activities, particularly work or business including school, are either suspended or completely reduced. In general, holidays are meant to enable people to celebrate or commemorate an occasion or belief of particular cultural or spiritual importance. Some also believe that a happy holiday means a happy person. Holidays give us joy and pleasure, and in some cases they have religious connotations as well. The kind of holidays we choose and observe depends on what we like and our outlooks.

Federal holidays are paid holidays. Federal holidays are different from state-specific or city-specific holidays in that they are paid holidays for all employees. Overtime work is generally paid holidays. Overtime workers are those who perform tasks like operating machines or handling tools.

It should be noted that although the rights to take time off for holidays vary between states and cities, federal law does not. Overtime workers are entitled to holiday pay. For an employee who works an extra twelve hours or more per week, he or she is entitled to take one twenty-four hour period of paid holidays each year. This calendar month includes Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, and the beginning of the academic year. If an employee works fewer than twelve hours per week, then he or she is not eligible for holiday pay. However, if an employee works one or more scheduled overtime hours each week, then the employee is entitled to one twenty four hour holiday per year.

Although federal holidays don’t require an employee to take time off, many employees do. On those occasions when federal holidays do apply, an employee may be requested to take time off. Most times, however, a request to take off will be made according to the schedule of the day. If the employee does not have enough paid holidays, then he or she may be asked to take time off instead. Federal holidays are generally scheduled from mid-winter through early-fall.

Holidays that fall in the summertime usually allow an employee to take a paid holiday either before or after his or her normal working schedule. This applies to people who work double-time, meaning they work two jobs during the same week. However, double-time employees must still receive their normal rate of pay. If the double-time employee requests more paid holidays than he or she normally receives, then this could result in a lapse of pay, depending on the laws of the state in which he or she is employed.

Federal holidays do not affect the employees age. They do, however, determine the holiday pay rate. The younger an employee is, the lower his or her holiday pay will be. In addition, all employees, except those exempted by federal law, are entitled to one day of paid holidays every four years; there are eight holidays in a year.