The State of Mississippi 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 Mississippi.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (3rd Monday in January)
- Robert E. Lee’s Birthday (3rd Monday in January)
- Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- Confederate Memorial Day (last Monday in April)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Jefferson Davis’ birthday (last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Veterans’ or Armistice Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. MS Statute 3-3-7
Public employers
State offices may be closed on the legal holidays listed above. If employees are required to work on legal holidays, they must be granted compensatory leave. MS Statute 25-1-98
Private employers
Private employers in Mississippi 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 Mississippi’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
