The State of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
- Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February)
- Good Friday (usually falls in March or April)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Flag Day (June 14)
- Juneteenth National Freedom Day (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Election Day (1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday of November)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- Saturday, after twelve o’clock noon until twelve o’clock midnight, which is designated as a half holiday
- any day appointed or recommended by the Governor of this Pennsylvania or the President of the United States as a day of thanksgiving or fasting and prayer, or other religious observance
PA Statute 44.2.11, PA 2019 Act 9 (Juneteenth National Freedom Day)
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. PA Statute 44.2.16(a)
Public employers
The Executive Board of the State of Pennsylvania is responsible for determining the holidays state administrative offices are closed. PA Statute 71.2.249
Private employers
Private employers in Pennsylvania 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 holiday 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 Pennsylvania’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
