What Are Federal Holidays?
Federal holidays are days the U.S. government officially sets aside. On these dates, federal workers usually get the day off with pay, and many private companies also follow. For employees, this means a break from work. For HR and payroll folks, it means adjusting schedules and making sure paychecks are right.
In 2025, knowing the holiday calendar is pretty important. It helps companies plan ahead, figure out who’s working, and make sure things like overtime and accrued leave are counted properly.
Federal Holidays in 2025
Here’s the full list of federal holidays for 2025:
- New Year’s Day – January 1 (Wednesday)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20 (Monday)
- Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) – February 17 (Monday)
- Memorial Day – May 26 (Monday)
- Juneteenth – June 19 (Thursday)
- Independence Day – July 4 (Friday)
- Labor Day – September 1 (Monday)
- Columbus Day – October 13 (Monday)
- Veterans Day – November 11 (Tuesday)
- Thanksgiving – November 27 (Thursday)
- Christmas – December 25 (Thursday)
If a holiday lands on a weekend, it usually moves to the closest weekday. That can throw payroll off if you’re not paying attention.
How Do Holidays Affect Payroll?
Federal holidays affect paychecks in a couple of ways:
- Holiday Pay – Some businesses pay more (like time-and-a-half) if you work on a holiday.
- Paid Time Off – Others give the day off but still pay you. It’ll show up differently from regular hours on your pay stub.
- Weekend Holidays – If a holiday shifts to a Monday or Friday, payroll has to be adjusted so employees don’t get shorted.
- Overtime – Holiday hours sometimes count toward overtime, depending on company policy.
Example on a Pay Stub
Let’s say Sarah works Labor Day 2025 (September 1st). Her pay stub might look like this:
- Regular Hours: 40
- Holiday Hours (Labor Day): 8
- Overtime: 0
- Holiday Pay: 1.5× hourly rate (if her company offers it)
Contractors have it different. If Sarah was an independent worker, she’d probably log her income through a 1099 NEC or 1099 MISC, and holidays wouldn’t matter unless it was part of her contract.
Also Check: Federal Holidays 2026
Why It Matters
Holiday pay can confuse things fast. If payroll teams don’t track holiday hours properly, employees might miss pay or overtime. For employees, it also affects PTO balances and scheduling.
And from a money side, some people even use extra holiday pay to boost retirement savings, like putting more into a Roth IRA.
That’s why tools like StubBuilder help. Our pay stub generator makes it easy to separate regular hours, holiday hours, and overtime—so everything’s clear.
Key Points to Remember
- Federal holidays are government-recognized days off.
- In 2025, there are 11 holidays (Christmas, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, etc.).
- Companies may pay extra if you work on a holiday.
- Contractors usually don’t get holiday pay.
- StubBuilder makes it simple to show holiday hours clearly on a pay stub.
FAQs About Federal Holidays 2025
1) Do all companies give federal holidays off?
No. Federal employees do, but private companies choose their own rules.
2) Do I get more money if I work on a holiday?
Depends. Some companies pay extra, others just treat it as a normal workday.
3) What if a holiday is on a Saturday or Sunday?
It usually moves to Friday or Monday. That way workers still get a day off.
4) How does it show on a pay stub?
Holiday hours are listed separately from regular hours.
5) Where’s the official holiday calendar?
You can check it anytime at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Stay Ahead with StubBuilder
If you’re tired of guessing how holiday pay should look on a pay stub, StubBuilder can help. Our tool breaks down regular hours, holiday pay, and overtime so payroll is clean and clear.
Try StubBuilder’s real paycheck stub generator today.
