This Memorial Day, let’s revisit how holiday leave interacts with federal leave laws like the FMLA—and what employers should keep in mind.
Holiday Weeks Count for FMLA (Sometimes): If an employee takes a full week of leave that includes a paid holiday like Memorial Day, the entire week counts toward their FMLA leave.
Partial Weeks Are Different: If the employee works any part of the week, the holiday does not count toward FMLA leave unless they were scheduled to work on the holiday.
Clarity in Policies is Key: Clear, consistent policies around holiday leave during protected absences help avoid compliance issues and confusion for HR teams and employees alike.
At ConnectBridge, we help organizations align their leave policies with FMLA, ADA, and PWFA requirements to reduce legal risk and support employee well-being.