Federal Legal Holidays Definition

Term Definition
Federal legal holidays are day offs declared by the U.S. federal government that are exclusive only to its employees. Other holidays are left to the discretion of the individual state jurisdiction.

Extended Definition
The U.S. has not assigned specific days that all employees receive as a mandatory holiday. Instead, the federal government recognizes a holiday schedule that is applicable to its employees. Additionally, each state and local jurisdiction can declare its own holiday schedule. The U.S. federal government has declared 11 federal legal holidays, ten occurring annually and one on a quadrennial basis.

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What is a Federal Legal Holiday?