Public Holidays in the United States
There are 11 recognized public holidays in the United States. U.S. law does not require employers to provide all public holidays as paid time off, so organizations typically decide which days to observe based on company policy.
Under the EOR model, Remote is the employer of record and has decided to provide 11 public holidays in the United States, following the standard U.S. public holiday schedule. All U.S.-based employees receive the same public holidays, regardless of the client company’s internal calendar.
Regional or Local Holidays
Regional and local holidays are not added automatically. If your company offers these days, please request them in the platform as additional public holidays, which will require management approval. If they are not provided by your company, you must use your PTO balance to take the day off.
How Public Holidays Work in the Remote Platform?
U.S. public holidays are automatically added to the employee’s time-off calendar.
Employees do not need to request these days.
These days do not deduct from the employee’s annual PTO balance, in line with the employment contract.
Employees can view the applicable U.S. public holidays directly in their profile.
Employee' view
- From the Time off tab, click on Public holidays.
- This will pull out a drawer that shows the public and regional holidays for that calendar year.
- You can request the public holidays that you wish to take in advance, as a time off request, as is outlined here, being sure to select the category of "Public holiday" from the drop down menu.
Company view
From the Time off tab, click on Public holidays.
To view the public holidays of another country, click the toggle arrow and choose the country you want.
How to View Public Holidays in the Platform
Employee View
From the Time Off tab, click Public Holidays. A drawer will open displaying the public and regional holidays for the selected calendar year. If applicable, employees may request regional or local holidays in advance by submitting a time-off request and selecting “Public holiday” from the dropdown menu.
Company View
From the Time Off tab, click Public Holidays. To view public holidays for another country, use the toggle arrow and select the desired country.
What Happens If a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
Remote adheres to standard U.S. observance practices. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the next Monday. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the previous Friday.
Am I Compensated for Working on a Public Holiday?
If an employee works on a public holiday in the United States, there is no legal requirement for additional compensation above the regular salary, nor is there any obligation to provide a substitute day off. Any additional benefits will be governed by the employment contract.
What If My Company Doesn’t Recognize a U.S. Public Holiday?
Because Remote is the employer of record, all U.S.-based employees receive the same 11 public holidays provided by Remote, regardless of the client company’s internal holiday policy.
Do December 24 (Christmas Eve) or December 26 count as Public Holidays?
No.
Neither December 24 (Christmas Eve) nor December 26 is a statutory public holiday in the United States. However, on December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order excusing most federal employees from duty on both days this year, effectively treating them as additional holidays for federal workers (with exceptions for essential roles like national security).
These one-time closures do not make the dates federal holidays established by Congress, nor do they apply to private-sector employers.
Remote's holiday schedule therefore recognizes only December 25 (Christmas Day) as the applicable public holiday.
U.S. Public Holidays Provided by Remote—2026
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 16 – Presidents’ Day
May 25 – Memorial Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 3 – Independence Day (Observed)
September 7 – Labor Day
October 12 – Columbus Day
November 11 – Veterans Day
November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
Does December 24 or December 26 Count as a Public Holiday?
No. December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 26 are not public holidays in the United States under Remote’s holiday schedule. While certain government-specific guidance may apply to public-sector employees, it has not been adopted as a general public holiday. Remote currently provides December 25 (Christmas Day) as the applicable public holiday.
You can also use our Country Explorer page to view what national and regional holidays are available in each country.
*Verified up to December 31, 2026*
Please be advised that the information provided is for general guidance only and should not be considered legal advice. Clients are strongly encouraged to contact the Lifecycle - Time & Attendance team for expert guidance and assistance in navigating the intricate landscape of time off requirements in the US. Consulting with our team is imperative to ensure compliance with local employment standards legislation and clearly understand the stipulated time off and attendance related requirements. Your proactive engagement with the Time & Attendance team is vital to making informed decisions and adhering to all relevant regulations.
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