{"id":371802,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-legal-holidays-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-02-10T10:51:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:51:55","slug":"california-legal-holidays-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-legal-holidays-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"California Holiday Pay and Legal Holidays Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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California Holiday Pay and Legal Holidays Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Carol Clasby, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

California law<\/span> does not require private employers to provide holiday pay<\/span> or premium pay<\/span> for working on holidays. However, if an employer makes a written promise to provide holiday pay<\/span> in an employment contract, handbook, or company policy<\/span>, they must honor that commitment. Such promises become enforceable wage benefits under California labor law<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s just after the holiday season<\/span>. You\u2019ve put in your time and missed a few family gatherings as a result, but you\u2019re expecting to see additional pay<\/span> in your next paycheck to make up for it. This raises an important question. Are California employers<\/span> required to provide paid holidays<\/span> for their employees or extra pay<\/span> for working on a legal holiday?<\/p>\n

While California labor laws<\/span> offer some of the strongest employee protections in the nation, the laws about holiday pay<\/span> may surprise you. Your employer\u2019s holiday schedule is generally based on company policy<\/span> and not on legal requirements<\/span>. To further complicate things, California laws<\/span> use the word \u201choliday\u201d in several different ways. The resulting confusion is a common source of workplace disputes.<\/p>\n

This article provides a detailed look at California\u2019s laws about holiday pay<\/span> and legal holidays, with a focus on private-sector (non-government) employees. For a broader look at federal rules and approaches taken in other states, see our companion article on holiday pay<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

State Laws About Holiday Pay<\/span><\/h2>\n

The most important thing to know about holidays in California<\/a> is that private employers are not required<\/strong> to provide them. In other words, California employers<\/span> are not legally required to pay premium pay<\/span>, such as time-and-a-half<\/span> or double time<\/span>, for working on holidays. There is also no requirement to provide paid time off<\/span> for holidays.<\/p>\n

California law<\/span> does not require private employers to provide holiday incentives to their employees. There are certain elements to be aware of, which we explain below.<\/p>\n

An Employer\u2019s Written Promise<\/h3>\n

Many employers choose to offer holiday incentives, such as additional pay<\/span> for working on specific holidays<\/span> or providing the day off<\/span>, with or without pay. Again, there is no legal requirement<\/span> for an employer to do this. Unless a promise to pay holiday incentives is in writing, such as in an employment contract,\u00a0employee handbook<\/span>,\u00a0company policy<\/span>, or\u00a0collective bargaining agreement<\/span>, holiday pay<\/span> is not required by law in the private sector.<\/p>\n

If an employer\u2019s policy<\/span> provides holiday incentives, the employer must honor that promise. In this case, holiday pay<\/span>\u00a0becomes a wage benefit that the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE<\/span>)<\/a> will enforce.<\/p>\n

The employer may set its own requirements for holiday pay<\/span>, such as:<\/p>\n