The State of Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
- Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- 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)
- Day after Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- The day before or after Christmas if Christmas is not on a Saturday or Sunday, the Thursday and Friday before Christmas if Christmas falls on a Saturday, and the Monday and Tuesday after Christmas if Christmas falls on a Sunday
If a holiday other than Christmas falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. If a holiday other than Christmas falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday. OK Statute 25-82.1(A)
Public employers
State employees, except for temporary and other limited-term employees, must be paid for legal holidays and generally may not be required to work on those days. If an employee is required to work on a legal holiday, their employing agency must either allow them to take another day off with pay in lieu of the holiday or pay them in lieu of granting a day off. OK Statute 25-82.1(D)
Private employers
Private employers in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
