A list of official 2009 federal holidays, the exact dates they fall on, and days the post office will be closed (no mail delivery).
U.S. federal holidays are mandated by Congress in Title 5 (Section 6103) of the United State Code. In 2009, there are eleven federal holidays in all - three in January, two in November, and one every other month of the year except March, April, June, and August.
What are the Federal Holidays in 2009?
The United States Code specifies the following official government holidays in 2009:
New Year’s Day - January 1st
Martin Luther King’s Birthday - January 19th. This falls on the third Monday in January.
Inauguration Day - January 20th. Since 1965, this holiday is observed every four years following the general election in November of the preceding year. Note: Only certain Washington D.C. area federal employees will get this day off.
Washington’s Birthday (commonly known as President’s Day) – February 16th. This falls on the third Monday in February.
Memorial Day - May 25th. This is the last Monday in May.
Independence Day - July 4th. Since the Fourth of July falls on Saturday this year, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has indicated that July 3, 2009 is actually the day that will be treated as a federal holiday for most government employees.
Labor Day - September 7th. This is the first Monday in September.
Columbus Day - October 12th. This falls on the second Monday in October.
Veterans Day - November 11th.
Thanksgiving Day - November 26th. This falls on the fourth Thursday in November.
Christmas Day - December 25th. The only religious holiday recognized by Congress, Christmas Day, always falls on December 25th.
Company Holidays: Many U.S. Employees Get Off Work Based on Official Federal Holidays
Private companies in the U.S. typically choose to observe a set number of holidays every year. For example, a company that allows ten holidays each year may break down the holiday calendar into individual holidays, two-day holiday breaks, and personal holidays. An example could be one day off for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day plus two days off for Thanksgiving (day of Thanksgiving and the day after) and Christmas (Christmas day plus one other day). Two days off for Thanksgiving and Christmas allows for extra time off during the two winter holidays that usually involve lots of family time and extensive travel. The final two holidays may be “preference” or “floating” holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion. This allows employees to create their own breaks, either to observe religious holidays, extend an existing holiday to several days, or simply create a mini-vacation any time during the year. Other popular company holidays are on President’s Day or Good Friday.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, most companies designate the Friday before or Monday after the holiday as the day of observance.
2009 Post Office Holidays: Will the Mail Run on Legal Holidays?
Many U.S. citizens wonder which days the postal service observes because the mail does not run on those days. The USPS (United States Postal Service) website has posted 2009 postal holidays; the post office will be closed on all of the federal holidays noted above for 2009, with the exception of Inauguration Day. Read more about post office closings in 2009 Postal Holidays, U.S. Post Office Closings.
Other articles about the United States federal government:
Cornell University Law School U.S. Code Collection
United States Postal Service website
The copyright of the article United States Federal Holidays in 2009 in American Affairs is owned by Lena Gott. Permission to republish United States Federal Holidays in 2009 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Is it a law that the employer has to give the employee another day off if
the federal holiday falls on a weekend?
Nov 20, 2008 5:31 PM
Guest
:
USPS should observe Inauguration Day 2009 as a paid holiday, just like the
Federal government. This "quasi" federal system the Postal
Service is under is unfair. It will be virtually impossible for mail
delivery in the city, so why should the rest of the postal service be made
to work? We don't get snow days, the Friday after Thanksgiving or any
other perks the Feds get. Give USPS a break!
Nov 21, 2008 7:07 AM
Guest
:
yeah, the rest of us feel really sorry for you having to work on
Inauguration Day like all of America. Oh, and about snow days, didn't the
USPS have a saying that included something about 'thru rain, snow, etc.'?
Dec 9, 2008 2:25 PM
Guest
:
In regards to Inauguration day I am a government employee and we don't get
this day off and we don't get the day after thanksgiving day or the day
after christmas off either. We don't get snow days either.
Dec 10, 2008 12:36 PM
Guest
:
to the idiot who says federal workers get off for blackfriday...you
do...only if you take off it is not a federal holiday. my question to you
is where did you hear that this is a holiday
Dec 11, 2008 7:07 AM
Guest
:
Only Federal workers around DC get inauguration day off, but the Federal
Employees in the rest of the country do not. See
http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2009.asp. The article
above actually references OPM, but I guess he didn't read the whole page.
A private employer does NOT have to follow the rules for
federal employees.
Federal employees often DO get the day
before/after Christmas if it falls on a Monday or Friday. The President
makes this decision and has to sign a order to do it. It is not automatic,
but usually occurs.
Federal buildings can be shut down because
of snow.
Dec 11, 2008 7:24 AM
Lena Gott :
Thanks for all of that information, guest on Dec 11, 2008 at 7:07 AM!
Dec 15, 2008 9:16 AM
Guest
:
I have heard that the day after christmas all federal employees will have
off this year? Is this true or not? I work in the Post Office Building and
was not sure if this was a rumor or not
Dec 22, 2008 4:40 AM
Guest
:
All of you that are negative about the Postal workers holidays do not
realize what the employees are going through right now..Everyone thinks
they are overpaid and underworked..Try to do a carriers route just ONE
time! You will appreciate them a lot more..And during the Christmas season
we get no extras! not even a christmas card (HA HA) from our employer. Our
salary is based on size and mail count of our route in Febuary not
December! So those extra hundred or so parcels and 1000 christams cards
every day during Christmas are free delivery for us! There is some concept
out there that you can't give your postal worker a christmas gift, if it
is under twenty dollars and not money we can accept it, and we very very
much appreciate it..So all you that are negative about your mail carrier,
just remember that we are not the ones that hike up the prices for stamps
and we do deserve a holiday every now and then..We do not get All the
holidays the federal government get.
Dec 23, 2008 6:25 AM
Guest
:
Most federal offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd 2009, because the
4th falls on a Saturday. What about the USPS? They deliver mail on Friday
and Saturday; so will they be closed on 7/3 or 7/4 or both?
Dec 23, 2008 8:50 AM
Guest
:
I am a Countrywide employee who will be observing Bank of America holidays
in 2009. Since 4th of July is on a Saturday, does our employer HAVE to give
us July 3rd off? Thanks.
Dec 31, 2008 8:12 AM
Guest
:
USPS employees: I am a Federal employee outside of the DC area, and I
don't get off on Inauguration Day. Never have. AND, since I'm not a USPS
employee, I don't get a HUGE discount on hospitalization. I don't get
showered with Christmas cards and/or gifts from my employer either. Are
you feeling sorry for me yet? As Federal employees we should be focusing on
how good we have it. Our jobs are much more secure than those working in
private industry. We have great annual and sick leave benefits. We have 2
or 3 more 'holidays' than those in private industry. We have good a
retirement benefit (so far!). Quit complaining!
Jan 1, 2009 10:57 AM
Guest
:
i have to work everyday, and pay taxes so that the postal people can decide
when they want to work and when they dont, so i have no pity on them when
it comes their schedule, everyday is a work day to the average tax payer,
so stop complaining and get my mail here on time.......................
Jan 1, 2009 4:45 PM
Guest
:
How about the highway star routes! We run the mail 6 days a week, dont get
ANY of the perks, no insurance no 401k, no personal or sick days, no sub to
run the route, if your sick then you run the route sick. if your car is
down then you have to find a car that will pass the inspection before it
can be used! We dont get the same pay rates as the ( real postal carrier as
I have heard them called) We dont get paid every two weeks, just once a
month. And we pay our own taxes every quarter. Man It must be hard to be a
Real mail carrier!!!
Jan 6, 2009 6:55 AM
Guest
:
Being a Postal worker should be perk enough for you whiners. We get plenty
of off days, holidays and benefits. And to the guest who pays taxes, so
does everybody. However, the USPS does not get any tax money from the
government. We must operate on sales of postal services. I've worked here
for 22 years. We could fire half of our workforce because of their lack of
initiative. But being a government institution, it isn't that easy. We'd
have EEOs coming out of our ears...
Jan 6, 2009 10:18 AM
Guest
:
Hi everyone. I have a general question regarding US holidays. I am a
Canadian employer w/ a few US-based employees. Can somebody help me clear
up the dilemma as to which holidays are mandatory and which are not? Am I
correct in assuming that only New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day are mandatory? I seem to be
having difficulties in fiding a good online source that can help me clarify
this issue. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance!
Jan 7, 2009 2:46 PM
Guest
:
To Canadian employer, here are some sites to assist you -- http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Public-holidays-of-the-United-St
ates ; http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Federal-holiday ; http://www.habeeb.com/USA.Holidays.html . Give them the time off;
it makes more happy and productive employees.
SO MUCH
complaining, bickering, animosity, self-pity and jealousy. It’s difficult
to celebrate another’s good fortune when your own situation is bleak, but
that’s what we’re supposed to do. If your job is so terrible and you’ve
exhausted all means to remedy it, then change your job. Walk a mile in
someone else’s shoes for once; maybe you’ll appreciate what you had.
Times are tough on everyone; spread some cheer and maybe it will be
reciprocated seven-fold. And let's mind our council, USPS employees;
public chat rooms are not the place to air the laundry or solicit
gratuities. A friendly reminder from your USPIS/OIG.
Jan 14, 2009 11:36 AM
Guest
:
DOes a company have to give an added day off if a holiday falls on a
weekend? In 2009, July 4th is Saturday--do you get July 3rd off?
Jan 16, 2009 6:10 PM
Guest
:
If you holiday falls on a weekend, you get what is called a
"floating" holiday......(for the countrywide/bank of america
employee)
Jan 19, 2009 8:50 AM
Guest
:
I just hope the USPS is running on Inauguration Day. They are off the day
before for MLK day. Two days in a row without mail is ridiculous. Enough
already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 19, 2009 12:24 PM
Guest
:
To the complainers. Be grateful that you have a job! Many people out there
do not!
Feb 16, 2009 2:51 PM
Guest
:
Two days withoutmail?! Yeah!! That means two days I won't get a bill! Folks
most of us chose our steps. Like one of the guests said, if you're not
happy with your job, change it. I don't work for the post office or the
federal government. Think, teachers get many days off too, but they
probably need them to keep their sanity. I admit I may feel abit sorry for
Wal-Mart employees, but they also chose their path. If you ave a job now,
be glad. It may not last.
May 20, 2009 2:36 AM
Guest
:
Why does everyone talk to one another this way?
May 22, 2009 1:18 PM
Guest
:
I would definitely not pity postal workers. That agency is lazy,dishonest
and extremely greedy. These days I am not proud of Americans that wear a
uniform, when it comes to those slobs...Sorry, but that's the truth!
Jun 9, 2009 9:20 PM
Guest
:
I know it was asked previously but I work for a private company and we had
in our employee manual that we would have 6 holidays including Independence
day...my question is: are we not entitled to take the day prior July 3rd in
observance of the 4th, 1 because it's listed in our employee handbook and 2
becuase it's a national holiday. They sent out an email at work just today
saying that we will be "business as usual" and they will make
amendments to the handbook. Yes, I'm happy to have a job but does that
mean you have to be treated like crap...I'm so sure the Upper Mngmnt will
be on someone's boat Friday popping off firecrackers meanwhile we're at
work getting nothing done because no one else in the free world will be
working...at least not in my industry!!! Just looking for some thoughts,
advice, or actual facts on this topic. Thanks!
Oct 13, 2008
