The State of Arizona has designated several days each calendar year as state holidays. The implications of these state holidays on public employers and private employers is discussed below.
The following list contains the state holidays recognized by Arizona.
- Sunday
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King, Jr./Civil Rights Day (3rd Monday in January)
- Lincoln/Washington Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February)
- Mothers’ Day (2nd Sunday in May)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Native American Day (June 2)
- Fathers’ Day (3rd Sunday in June)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- American Family Day (1st Sunday in August)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Constitution Commemoration Day (September 17)
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
When any of the listed holidays falls on a Sunday (except Sunday), it is observed on the following Monday, except for those holidays that fall on Sunday and Constitution Commemoration Day. If New Years’ Day, Independence Day, Veterans’ Day, or Christmas Day falls on Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday. When Constitution Commemoration Day falls on a day other than Sunday, it is observed on the Sunday prior to September 17.
Public employers
All Arizona public offices and courts of justice must be closed on the legal holidays listed above and no judicial business may be transacted, except in the following circumstances:
- to give instruction to a jury deliberating on its verdict, if requested by the jury,
- to receive a verdict from a jury
- to discharge a jury
- to exercise the powers of a magistrate in a criminal action or in a proceeding of a criminal nature
When a public office agrees to provide or complete anything of a secular nature on a legal holiday, the public office may provide or complete it on the next business day after the holiday. AZ Statute 1-303
Public schools
Public schools must close on July 4, Veterans’ Day, December 25, and Thanksgiving Day if they fall within the school week and the compensation for teachers may not be reduced for those days. School districts are permitted to declare a recess during the Christmas holiday season, but it may not exceed two school weeks. Teachers must be paid during the Christmas recess. AZ Statute 15-801
Private employers
Private employers in Arizona are not required to close on any of the listed holidays. Additionally, private employers are not required to allow employees to take either paid or unpaid time off on the holidays nor are they required to pay employees any premium wage rates to employees who work on the holidays. Private employers may establish policies or practices granting employees time off on any of the listed holidays or agree to pay premium wage rates to employees who work on those days. Employers who establish such policies or practices may be required to comply with them.
Find out more about Arizona’s Leave Laws.
