Handling Holiday Time Off

No matter your industry, the holidays mean facing a few scenarios with your employees unique to this time of year. Many workers want to take time off, and for those in retail it may mean bringing on temporary or seasonal workers to deal with the holiday rush. Here’s quick run down of some questions to keep in mind:

Do I have to give my employees time off for any holiday?

Generally, private employers are not required to provide time off for holidays such as Christmas and New Years’ Day. So while not a requirement, most employers are not Mr. Grinch and voluntarily provide their employee’s time off.

Federal law does require employers to “reasonability accommodate” the religious practices of their employees. Therefore, if you provide time off for religious holidays, such as Christmas, in order to avoid religious discrimination claims you should also provide similar opportunities for workers of other faiths.

Any special rules on pay for the holiday?

If you do require employees to work on holidays, you are not obligated to pay a higher wage than other days. However, the normal rules on overtime still apply. Again, most small biz employers are not taking a page out of Scrooge’s handbook, and if able will voluntary provide a higher wage for working on a holiday or the day after a holiday. And as a bonus, this could go a long way towards the morale and loyalty of your employees.

What if I need to hire seasonal workers?

Temporary or seasonal workers are a great way to deal with high volume without hiring new employees. Temporary or seasonal workers are entitled to the same minimum wage as your employees, but not to health insurance or other benefits provided to your permanent employees. Generally, temporary or seasonal workers are entitled overtime pay, however in a few states certain categories of seasonal employees may not be.

Keep these points in mind as you’re navigating your holiday schedule. And how ever you choose to handle seasonal time off, make your environment welcoming and festive for the employees clocking in.

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