What Are Federal Holidays?
Federal holidays are days that have been recognized by the U.S. government. Federal employees generally have the day off with pay on these dates, and other employers have commonly offered similar benefits. As far as workers are concerned, this means break time. For HR and payroll people, it’s about managing the schedules and ensuring the paychecks are accurate.”
It’s 2025 and knowing what holiday the calendar reads is pretty important. It also serves to help companies plan ahead, have a handle on who is working and ensure fair treatment in accounting for things like overtime or accrued leave.
Federal Holidays in 2025
Here is the complete list of federal holidays for 2025:
New Year’s (January 1, Wednesday to Friday)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20 (Mon)
The Birth of Washington (Presidents’ Day) – February 17 (Monday)
Memorial Day – 26th of May (Monday)
Juneteenth – June 19 (Thursday)
The Fourth of July – July 4 (Friday)
Day of the workers – September 1 (lunes)
Columbus Day – October 13 (Monday)
Veterans Day – Nov. 11 (Tues.)
Thanksgiving – November 27 (Thursday)
Christmas – December 25 (Thursday)
If the holiday falls on a weekend, it is usually observed on the nearest weekday. If you’re not paying attention, that can throw payroll off.
How Do Holidays Affect Payroll?
Federal holidays impact paychecks in a couple of different ways:
Holiday Pay– Some companies will pay more on holidays (such as time-and-a-half).
Paid Time Off – Some have the day off but pay you no matter what. It will look different from regular hours on your pay stub.
Weekend Holidays — Payroll has to be adjusted when a holiday falls on a Monday or Friday to ensure that employees aren’t shorted.
Overtime — Holiday hours may be considered toward overtime, depending on company policy.
Example on a Pay Stub
For example, let’s say Sarah works Labor Day 2025 (September 1). Her pay stub may well appear as follows:
Regular Hours: 40
Holiday Hours (Labor Day): 8
Overtime: 0
Holiday Pay: Time and a half hourly rate (if it is available through the company she works for)
Contractors have it different. If Sarah had been an independent contractor, she’d likely record her earnings via a 1099 NEC or 1099 MISC, and holidays wouldn’t come into play unless specified as such in any of her contracts.
Why It Matters
Holiday pay makes things a bit murkier in a hurry. Without accurate tracking of holiday hours, payroll teams can mess up pay and bonuses for employees. It also impacts employees in terms of their PTO balances and scheduling.
And money wise, they are even some people who use additional holiday pay to pad retirement savings — such as stashing more money into a Roth IRA.
It’s why tools like Paystub Generator Free come in handy. Our pay stub creator gives you the flexibility to divide hours worked between regular hours, holiday hours, and overtime—so it’s all transparent.
Key Points to Remember
Federal holidays are officially recognized by the U.S. government.
In 2025, a total of 11 holidays (Christmas, Labour Day, Thanksgiving and others).
Companies could be charged extra if you work on a holiday.
Even if holiday pay is on the table, contractors generally don’t receive it.
It’s simple with check stub generator to indicate your holiday hours (holiday hours pay stub) easily and understandably on the paystub.
FAQs About Federal Holidays 2025
1) Does every company get federal holidays off?
No.. All federal employees do, but each private company makes its own rules.
2) If I work on a holiday, will I receive extra money?
Depends. Some companies pay overtime, others simply consider it regular work.
3) What if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?
It normally shifts to Friday or Monday. This way, workers still take a day off.
4) How is it reflected on a pay stub?
Holiday hours are also shown apart from regular hours.
5) Of the official holiday, where is it?
You can look it up any time at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
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