The State of Virginia 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 national and state holidays recognized by Virginia.
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
- George Washington Day (3rd Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day (2nd Monday in October)
- Election Day (Tuesday following the first Monday in November)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day (December 25)
If a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. If any of these holidays falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday. VA Statute 2.2-3300
Public employers
Employees of the state attorney, treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, the clerk of the circuit court, the sheriff, and all courts whose salaries are paid by Virginia are entitled to leave on the legal holidays listed above. If any of these employees is required to work on a legal holiday, they must receive an equal amount of compensatory time with pay in the same calendar year in which the holiday falls. VA Statute 15.2-1605
Private employers
Private employers in Virginia 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 Virginia’s Leave Laws.
Federal Holidays
Click here for a list of federal holidays.
