There are many ways to track the passing of the year in the Mountain State - from the seasons and changing color of the trees to birthdays and anniversaries with loved ones. Our calendar is also filled with work holidays that help us mark the passing of the year and help us remember and pay tribute to historical figures and national events. And if they give us a few Mondays or Fridays out of the office, that’s not bad too, right? Here is a quick introduction to legal holidays laws in West Virginia.
Holidays in West Virginia
State legal holidays laws can vary. For example, while most holidays are nationally celebrated, like Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, West Virginia also recognizes West Virginia Day every year on June 20th.
West Virginia Legal Holidays Statutes
The details of West Virginia’s legal holiday laws are listed below.
| Code Section | West Virginia Code 2-2-1: Legal Holidays and Special Memoria |
| Holidays | New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday; Washington's Birthday; Lincoln's Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; West Virginia Day; any national, state, or other election day throughout any district or municipality |
Legal Holidays and Employment
With so many people getting days off of work for legal holidays, it’s only natural to wonder how they will affect our own employment and paycheck. West Virginia has wage and hour laws and minimum wage and overtime pay statutes that determine how much, when, and how we get paid for standard hours, but state law doesn’t require all employers to provide paid time off for national and state holidays. And in-state employers may not be required to pay employees extra for working legal holidays.
There are also no federal employment laws that require extra pay for work performed on legal holidays. While it is possible for private employers in West Virginia to make their employees work on holidays and pay them only their normal wage, most bosses recognize the benefits of a happy staff and will voluntarily give employees legal holidays off or provide overtime pay for working on a holiday. How your employer treats legal holidays will depend on the terms of your employment contract.
More Resources for West Virginia Legal Holidays Laws
Figuring out your employer treats legal holidays can be challenging. FindLaw's section on Employment Law can provide you with additional articles and resources on this topic. You can also consult with a West Virginia employment law attorney in your area if you would like legal help regarding an employment matter.
