Holidays mark religious, cultural, and historical events and celebrations, and sometimes honor important historical figures. While there are holidays on virtually every day of the calendar, a legal holiday is one that is recognized by the federal or state government. The term describes those days on which state and federal government employees are granted to either a paid day off or -- if they work on a holiday -- premium pay, which is typically time and one-half. It is quite common for employers to provide paid holidays for their salaried, full-time workers, but it is not a requirement unless holiday pay is explicitly stated in the employment contract.
Legal holidays recognized by the federal government, including Thanksgiving and Independence Day, also must be recognized by the states. But some states observe additional holidays and sometimes commemorate multiple legal holidays on the same day (or give people a choice). Additionally, some states observe "half" holidays, on which state employees work in the morning and then receive a paid afternoon off.
Legal Holidays in Idaho at a Glance
Idaho recognizes the same legal holidays observed by the federal government, as mandated by law, but also celebrates "Idaho Human Rights Day" on the same day as the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. If you are a government employee in Idaho and were not provided a paid day off or holiday pay for working on a legal holiday, then you may have a valid wage and hour claim. You can file your wage claim online with the Idaho Department of Labor.
The following chart lists Idaho's legally recognized holidays, with links to additional resources. See FindLaw's Wages and Benefits section to learn more.
| Code Section | 73-108 |
| Holidays | New Year's Day (January 1); Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday and Idaho Human Rights Day (third Monday of January); Washington's Birthday (third Monday of February); Memorial Day (last Monday of May); Independence Day (July 4); Labor Day (first Monday of September); Columbus Day (second Monday of October); Veterans Day (November 11); Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November); Christmas (December 25) |
Note: State laws may change at any time, most often through the enactment of newly signed legislation, but occassionally through higher court decisions or other means. You may want to contact an Idaho employment law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Idaho Legal Holiday: Related Resources
