The State of Florida has designated several days each calendar year as state holidays. The implications of these state holidays on public employers and private employers are discussed below.
The following list contains the state holidays recognized by Florida.
- Sunday
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (January 15)
- Robert E. Lee’s Birthday (January 19)
- Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12)
- Susan B. Antony’s Birthday (February 15)
- Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- Good Friday (usually falls in March or April)
- Pascua Florida Day (April 2)
- Confederate Memorial Day (April 26)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Jefferson Davis’s Birthday (June 3)
- Flag Day (June 14)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Farmers’ Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- General Election Day
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- Shrove Tuesday (“Mardi Gras” – in countries where carnival associations are organized for celebrating the holiday)
If a legal holiday falls on a Sunday (other than Sundays), it is observed on the following Monday. FL Statute 683.01
Public employers
Public employers must observe the following state holidays and must grant employees paid leave:
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (January 15)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Friday after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day (December 25)
If a paid holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday. If a paid holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
Full-time employees are also entitled to one personal holiday each year which is credited on July 1 and must be taken prior to June 30 of the following year. Part-time employees are also entitled to a personal holiday each year which is calculated proportionately to the personal holiday of a full-time employee. The personal holiday is not available to teachers or research faculty who work in the State University System and administrative and professional positions exempt under Florida Statute 110.205. FL Statute 110.117
Private employers
Private employers in Florida 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 holiday 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 Florida’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
