The State of New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday (3rd Monday in January)
- Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12)
- Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- Good Friday (usually falls in March or April)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth Day (3rd Friday in June)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Veterans’/Armistice Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- General election day
- Saturday
- any day appointed, ordered or recommended by the Governor of New Jersey or the President of the United States as a day of fasting and prayer or other religious observance or as a bank holiday or holidays.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. NJ Statute 36:1-1
Public employers
New Jersey statutes do not specifically grant public employees paid holiday leave. However, New Jersey statutes require public offices of the state to remain open on Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12). NJ Statute 36:1-1
Private employers
Private employers in New Jersey 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 New Jersey’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
