The State of Nebraska 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 Nebraska.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
- President’s Day (3rd Monday in February)
- Arbor Day (last Friday in April)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Public employers
State employers must grant permanent employees paid leave on the legal holidays listed above except in cases of emergencies or when otherwise deemed necessary by the Governor. To qualify for paid leave, employees must not have been absent without pay on the workday immediately before or immediately after the holiday unless they are excused by their supervisor.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the holiday is observed on the prior Friday. If employees are required to work on holidays, they must be given either compensatory time off or be paid for the time worked in accordance with state and federal statutes. Part-time employees are eligible for paid leave on a pro-rata basis. Temporary employees are not eligible for paid holiday leave. NE Statute 84-1001
Private employers
Private employers in Nebraska 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 Nebraska’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
