How to Handle Holidays — At Work and Online

October 18, 2024

Summary: Whether it’s federal and company holidays or religious and industry-related observances, here’s a guide on how to handle holidays in the office and online.

If you don’t think holidays are important to your employees, think again. Research shows that workers want paid vacation (76% of those surveyed), paid sick time (74%), and paid holidays (74%). That can add up to a lot of time off.

How do you decide which holidays to observe? How do you manage the workload while employees are out? Which holidays should the company acknowledge on social media, and how? How do the holidays affect your client relations and account management? Read this blog to find answers to these questions and more.

What Are the Most Common Paid Holidays in the United States?

Federal holidays in the United States are government-mandated and provide federal employees with a paid day off, whereas non-federal holidays like Valentine’s Day and Halloween are not government-recognized, and observance by businesses is optional. While federal employees are guaranteed time off on federal holidays, most employers are not obligated to offer paid leave for any holidays but may do so as an employee benefit.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require private-sector employers to provide paid or unpaid time off for holidays, though many choose to do so to boost employee morale and retention. Exceptions exist, such as in Rhode Island, where employees working on Sundays and holidays must be paid time and a half. Additionally, some employers may be obligated to offer paid holiday leave under collective bargaining agreements.

Keep in mind that state and local governments and private businesses might call these holidays by other names, but our list follows the names designated in federal law. (Federal employees in the Washington, DC, area also receive Inauguration Day as paid leave for each fourth year; this policy started in 1965.) Typically, there are only 11 federal holidays each year.

What are the Federal Holidays for 2025?

1. New Year’s Day — Wednesday, January 1
2. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. — Monday, January 20
3. Washington’s Birthday — Monday, February 17
4. Memorial Day — Monday, May 26
5. Juneteenth National Independence Day — Thursday, June 19
6. Independence Day — Friday, July 4
7. Labor Day — Monday, September 1
8. Columbus Day — Monday, October 13
9. Veterans Day — Tuesday, November 11
10. Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 27
11. Christmas Day — Thursday, December 25

We’re nearing what some people call the Holiday Quarter because traditional Q4s include a lot of personal PTO as well as federal days off like Thanksgiving and Christmas. These dates are known for their sales (hello! Black Friday? Cyber Monday?) almost as much as their original cultural significance.

               Read More: “How the Holidays Affect Your Digital Campaigns”

From a marketing standpoint, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas shopping seasons can increase campaign costs and change user behavior. Be ready for the holidays to affect your business and your bottom line.

How to Handle Religious Holidays at a Secular Company

Handling religious holidays at a secular company requires a thoughtful and inclusive approach to respect diverse beliefs while maintaining a neutral work environment.

Here are some best practices to consider:

• Establish a Clear Policy: Create a clear, written policy on time off for religious holidays that is communicated to all employees. The policy should outline how requests for time off will be handled, ensuring fairness and consistency.
• Offer Flexible Leave Options: Allow employees to use personal, vacation, or floating holidays for religious observances. This flexibility enables employees to take time off for their specific religious holidays without requiring special treatment.
• Accommodate Requests When Possible: Make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests for time off for religious holidays, as required by law, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business.
• Foster an Inclusive Environment: Encourage a workplace culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their religious needs with HR or administration.
• Avoid Scheduling Conflicts: Be mindful when scheduling important meetings, deadlines, or company events, avoiding dates that coincide with major religious holidays whenever possible.
• Consider a Floating Holiday System: Offering floating holidays gives employees the flexibility to observe religious or cultural holidays that are important to them, ensuring they feel respected and valued.
• Maintain a Secular Tone: Ensure that company-wide events and communications remain neutral and inclusive, avoiding favoritism toward any particular religion.

By implementing these practices, a secular company can respect the diverse religious needs of its employees while maintaining a fair and inclusive workplace.

How to Handle Holidays Online Without Getting Canceled

Recognizing holidays on social media can be a valuable way for companies to engage with their audience, but it should be approached carefully to avoid backlash or potential missteps.

Of course, you want to be social (it is social media, after all), which means a degree of personality and candid content. But you also don’t want your company to be boycotted for putting their foot in it.

Here are a few social media best practices to keep in mind:

• Stay True to Your Brand: Focus on holidays that resonate with your brand identity and mission. For example, a brand focused on sustainability might highlight Earth Day, while a medical company might recognize awareness dates that emphasize health and wellbeing.
• Be Inclusive and Sensitive: When recognizing holidays, be mindful of cultural and religious sensitivities. Ensure your messaging is respectful and avoid making assumptions about how people celebrate. Inclusivity can help prevent backlash and demonstrate your brand’s commitment to all potential customers.
• Research and Plan Carefully: Take the time to understand the significance of each holiday before posting. Avoid superficial or generic messages that could be seen as insincere (at best) or tokenism (at worst). Planning content well in advance allows for careful consideration and review.
• Engage Authentically: If your company chooses to recognize holidays, do so authentically. Engaging in performative recognition can backfire. If a holiday doesn’t align with your brand, it’s okay not to comment on it.
• Monitor Responses and Adapt: Pay attention to how your audience reacts to holiday posts. Use feedback to adjust your approach in the future, being willing to learn from mistakes and improve.
• Consider Opting Out: If your brand’s position or audience makes recognizing certain holidays potentially controversial, it may be wise to opt out. Silence can sometimes be the best option if the risks outweigh the benefits.

Whether a company should recognize holidays on the company’s social platforms depends on its understanding of its audience and brand identity. For example, if you sell Christmas ornaments, posting about the Christmas holiday is a must. If you work for an international secular non-profit, referencing the winter season would be a safer (and kinder) approach.

Even beyond the topic of holidays, it’s true: Thoughtful, well-researched, and inclusive content can enhance brand engagement, while poorly executed posts can lead to backlash.

How Many “National Days” Do Americans Observe?

Beyond federal holidays and common religious observances, we now have other “national days” that are often posted about on social media and sometimes celebrated in office, though employees are rarely awarded time off for these occasions.

Some people think we’ve taken the concept of “national days” too far. And, they might be right. There are more than 1,500 “national days” each year, along with a barrage of accompanying hashtags aimed at boosting corporate marketing goals.

For example of how companies monetize these “days,” creating them for advertising and marketing purposes, think about the current trend (and pressure) to ask a date to high school prom in the most spectacular way possible. Did you know that “National Promposal Day” (March 11 each year) was founded by Men’s Wearhouse to make sure high schoolers are asking their date to prom with plenty of time to get tux rentals. Did you know that “National Little Red Wagon Day” was created by Radio Flyer?

In 2024, March 28 alone contained 10 “days” to recognize (and that doesn’t even cover the awareness “weeks” and “months”), including “National Black Forest Cake Day,” “National Something on a Stick Day,” “National Weed Appreciation Day,” and “Respect Your Cat Day.”

Most of these days come with their own hashtag and promo kits, but trying to recognize all of them on your social media would be a mistake. Not to mention require three full-time jobs.

It’s good marketing practice to be aware of federal holidays, religious observances, and even speciality days/weeks/months that are related to your industry. This awareness will help you determine your company holidays, respect employee traditions and cultures, and create a social media calendar with posts that reach your target audience without exploiting them.

Best Practices for Handling Holidays in House

Regardless of the dates you decide to observe as a company, remember this three-step guide:

1. Create
2. Communicate
3. Plan

Create a calendar and clearly communicate it to all employees so the entire team is aware in advance of the paid holidays that will be observed.

Plan ahead for these holidays since “observing” them means employees will not be working those days. This includes making sure your staff has met deadlines in advance, delivered any projects to clients that would be due in their absence, and communicated with their clients or customers about the closure.

It’s a good idea to have a company-wide protocol regarding out-of-office email statements (with emergency contact information) for individual employees to use for holidays and PTO.

Remember that your clients may also take an extended OOO break around federal holidays, so external communication and planning are also paramount.

Finally, it’s smart to have a back-up plan in place in case an emergency occurs (like an entire website or online ordering system goes down) while people are on leave.

Best Marketing Agencies in Town

If you need more advice on this topic or other business matters, let us know. You have objectives. We have solutions.

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