The State of South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (3rd Monday in January)
- George Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February)
- Confederate Memorial Day (May 10)
- 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)
- The Day after Thanksgiving Day
- The Day before Christmas
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- The Day after Christmas Day
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday. SC Statute 53-5-30
Public employers
State employees, other than those working for agencies following academic schedules, who are required to work on a legal holiday must be granted compensatory time at the convenience of their employing agency within 90 days of the holiday. State employees working for agencies following academic schedules who are required to work on a legal holiday must be granted compensatory time at the convenience of their employing agency within one year of the holiday.
If a non-exempt employee is not allowed to take the compensatory time earned within the relevant period, the employing agency must compensate them for all compensatory time at their straight hourly rate, unless the employing agency has received an extension to the compensatory time use period from the Budget and Control Board. State employees who do not work a Monday through Friday schedule must be awarded the same number of holiday as employees who works such a schedule. SC Statute 8-11-50
Private employers
Private employers in South Carolina 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 South Carolina’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
