The State of Missouri 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 Missouri:
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day (3rd Monday in January)
- Lincoln Day (February 12)
- Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- Truman Day (May 8)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. MO Statute 9.010
Public Employers
State employees who work on a state holiday may choose to be granted an equal amount of compensatory leave or to be paid their straight time hourly rate for the hours worked. MO Statute 105.935(2)
Private Employers
Private employers in Missouri 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.
They are also not required to pay 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.
Missouri State Holidays FAQs 2022
Which holidays are considered federal holidays?
Just because a date is a holiday in Missouri, it does not mean that the holidays are the same types.
Almost all are federal holidays, except for Lincoln’s Birthday and Truman Day (both government holidays).
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are also celebrated, but they are not public holidays. Christmas Day, on the other hand, is considered more of a regional holiday.
At the very least, the majority of Missouri employees get to have a minimum of six (6) paid holidays.
In the case of higher education institutions, they can decide to give additional days off, known as extra given days, when they deem it necessary for employees.
University presidents may give this benefit even if not required by Missouri law.
Do nonexempt employees get hours of holiday pay during a holiday season?
Yes. As long as they are regular and nonexempt, once asked to render hours on a holiday, they will receive one to 1.5 times their premium rate in addition to the holiday pay.
Find out more about Missouri’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
