Every year, the arrival of Christmas raises a common question among millions of workers in the United States: whether or not double payment is due for completing tasks on December 25th. According to federal law, the response is not automatic and depends on a number of requirements established by law.
Christmas is part of the federal holiday calendar and one of 12 holidays recognized by the United States government. Contrary to what is happening in other countries, Working on public holidays alone does not guarantee receipt of additional salary. Overtime pay is governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which establishes specific criteria.
Under this law, only some employees are entitled to overtime pay if they work on Christmas. The first requirement is worked more than 40 hours during the work week. The second is be classified as a “non-exempt” employeeaccording to parameters established by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. In these cases, the employer must pay at least one and a half times the usual value of the hour worked.
The FLSA is also clear on another key point: Employers are not required to pay any additional amount for work weekends, holidays or days off. This means that an employee who does not exceed the weekly number of hours or is considered exempt will receive the agreed regular salary, unless their employment contract or an internal company agreement provides for a special benefit.
This system creates significant disparities between private sector workers. Some companies choose to offer double pay or bonuses as an incentive during the holidays. However, these are business decisions and not a legal obligation at the federal level.
Christmas is part of the list of official holidays, to which twelve dates will be added in 2026. Among them are:
These days, government departments, banks and parts of the private sector generally suspend their activities, although many essential services continue to operate.
The United States government also reminds us of this Each state can set additional holidays to commemorate relevant events or personalities in its history. No surcharge is required for these on-site visits either, unless they exceed 40 hours per week or there is a contractual agreement.
In the federal calendar there is a specific holiday that is celebrated only every four years:
The next ceremony is scheduled for 2029 and will mark the official start of a new presidential term on Capitol Hill in Washington DC
If you work on Christmas Day in the United States, you don’t automatically get paid double. The right to overtime depends on the total number of hours per week and each employee’s job category as determined by the FLSA and official U.S. Government guidelines.
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