At StaffViz, we know the importance of being a step ahead of the competition when it comes to juggling holiday schedules, particularly in an ever-on-the-move world. That is why we have taken a close look at the most meaningful federal holidays in 2025, not just their intriguing histories, but how they impact your employees now. 

How did we obtain this data? With our vast system for monitoring employee behavior, business patterns, and work activity, we've gathered the most applicable knowledge to assist you in mastering every holiday. 

2025 Federal Holidays at a Glance

Holiday	2025 Date
New Year’s Day	January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	January 20
Presidents’ Day	February 17
Memorial Day	May 26
Juneteenth National Independence Day	June 19
Independence Day	July 4
Labor Day	September 1
Columbus Day	October 13
Veterans Day	November 11
Thanksgiving Day	November 27
Christmas Day	December 25

New Year’s Day – January 1

A Trip Through Time: New Year’s Day has deep roots. So, way back in the ancient days in Babylon in 2000 BCE, they celebrated their New Year with 11 days of celebration. And then there are the Romans, who shifted it to January 1 in the name of Janus, the start god, who had two faces— toward the past and the future. 

In America, New Year's Day wasn't made a federal holiday until 1870, but it didn't catch on until the 1960s. In the Great Depression, stores stayed open so that businesses could proceed. 

Why It Still Matters: Even though 43% of Americans make resolutions for the New Year, a noteworthy 80% of them break them by February, showing how hard it is to stick with long-term objectives despite the initial drive for introspection and new beginnings.

Managing Your Workforce: Expect skeleton crews in healthcare and retail, with corporate offices typically closed. But here’s the kicker: those last-minute PTO requests and overtime costs for critical staff are a real challenge.

StaffViz Tips: Auto-schedule rollovers can save you time by dragging December’s template into January. Don’t forget to pre-set holiday pay for essential roles like nurses or security staff. And why not send a “Welcome Back” survey to gauge your team’s morale post-holiday?

MLK Jr. Day – January 20

A Journey to Recognition: MLK Jr. Day wasn’t officially proposed until 1968 and didn’t become a federal holiday until 1983. All 50 states didn’t even recognize it until 2000. Stevie Wonder’s song “Happy Birthday” became an anthem pushing for the holiday’s recognition.

Why It’s More Than Just a Day Off: This day has become a powerful reminder of service. Over 20 million Americans volunteer on MLK Jr. Day each year, and many companies are increasingly under pressure to address racial equity within their corporate structures. 

Managing Your Workforce: It can be difficult to strike a balance between volunteer hours and keeping the machines up at the office. Besides that, MLK Jr. Day is regarded as more than just a day off—rather, it is a time of reflection, service to the community, and activism.

Presidents’ Day – February 17

The Battle Between Washington and Lincoln: Presidents’ Day wasn’t always this uniform. Some states still honor Washington, and others (like Alabama) celebrate Washington and Thomas Jefferson separately. But it’s the retail sales that truly dominate this day. It’s the third biggest shopping weekend after Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Why It Matters Today: Federal offices close, while retail and restaurants go into overdrive. Additionally, school breaks during Presidents' Day mean many families are on the move, and that impacts working parents.

Managing Your Workforce: Staffing retail teams during the sales frenzy can be difficult, and with so many parents juggling school breaks, PTO requests can get a little crazy.

StaffViz Tips: Use demand forecasting to predict busy times and prepare for increased foot traffic. And don't forget to let employees swap shifts to accommodate family schedules, using a shift-swap board to make the process easy.

Memorial Day – May 26

Decoration Day Origins: In the South, Memorial Day began as Decoration Day, when women adorned Confederate soldiers' graves. Union sympathizers took up the tradition after the Civil War and quickly expanded throughout the nation.

Why It’s Relevant Today: To most Americans, Memorial Day is the de facto start of summer, a holiday weekend that brings family trips, beach getaways, and barbecue. Memorial Day is a day of thanks and remembrance for those women and men who sacrificed their lives in our nation's defense.

Managing Your Workforce: A whopping 42 million Americans travel over Memorial Day weekend, and that means lots of travel disruptions. Expect some of your essential workers in hospitality and healthcare to be running full steam ahead, while others may be trying to sneak in a long weekend.

StaffViz Tips: Use blackout dates to restrict PTO for critical roles during peak travel times and apply automatic holiday pay rules for those working shifts. You can even host a virtual moment of silence using StaffViz’s Zoom integration to honor the day.

Juneteenth – June 19

A Long Time Coming: Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the day, in 1865, when Texas slaves were emancipated, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Although Texas declared it a state holiday in 1980, 41 additional years elapsed before it was made a federal holiday in 2021.

Why It’s Important Today: 59% of Fortune 100 firms now observe Juneteenth, a holiday honoring the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, and a societal movement toward deliberate education and introspection is underway. There’s also been a cultural shift, with many businesses and individuals becoming more intentional about education and reflection.

Managing Your Workforce: This holiday is still gaining traction, and while it’s essential to offer paid time off, balancing awareness and education around the holiday without crossing into tokenism can be a delicate matter.

StaffViz Tips: Offer employees the option to choose Juneteenth or another cultural holiday from your floating holiday pool. You can also track participation in related DEI events and training.

Independence Day – July 4

A Rocky Start: Only two out of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence signed it on July 4, 1776. Go figure, right? Now, it’s a day filled with parades, fireworks, and lots of BBQ.

Why It’s Still a Big Deal: It’s a peak time for PTO requests—88% of employees want time off. Plus, fireworks injuries spike every year, which impacts healthcare staffing.

Managing Your Workforce: With so many employees wanting time off and essential healthcare staff in high demand, coverage gaps can become an issue.

StaffViz Tips: Use conflict alerts to block PTO if more than 30% of your team requests the same days off. Offer bonus pay for last-minute emergency shifts through StaffViz’s shift bidding tool.

Labor Day – September 1

A History of Strikes: Labor Day was born from the aftermath of the 1894 Pullman Strike, which led to riots and casualties. Unlike most other countries that celebrate workers on May 1 (May Day), the U.S. chose the first Monday in September.

Why It’s Still Relevant: Labor Day signals the end of summer, and many employees in retail and construction are pushing to finish projects. With union support on the rise, it’s a time when employee demands (like holiday bonuses) can hit a high point.

Managing Your Workforce: Many workers feel burnt out as the summer comes to an end, so expect higher turnover and demand for time off. Unionized teams may also raise concerns about compensation.

StaffViz Tips: Run overtime audits to ensure no one is approaching their caps. And track union contracts to ensure compliance with holiday pay agreements.

Columbus Day – October 13

A Day of Debate: While Columbus Day remains a federal holiday, many states have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This reflects the growing awareness of the holiday’s controversial legacy.

Why It’s Still a Talking Point: Half of Gen Z employees expect their employers to recognize Indigenous history, making it more than just a day off for many.

Managing Your Workforce:Navigating the regional differences (like “Columbus Day” vs “Indigenous Peoples’ Day”) can be tricky. Plus, the closure of most banks can mess with payroll deadlines.

StaffViz Tips: Create custom holiday labels so you can easily adjust for different observances across states. Keep track of missed bank deadlines with payroll alerts.

Veterans Day – November 11

A Day to Honor: Veterans Day marks the armistice that ended WWI, signed at 11 AM on 11/11. While many schools and government offices close, retail remains open.

Why It’s Important: While 65% of veterans leave their first post-military job within two years, recognizing them on Veterans Day can help with retention.

Managing Your Workforce: Not all companies go beyond offering PTO to veterans, which means there may be gaps in recognition programs. Also, identifying veteran employees without overstepping privacy can be a challenge.

Thanksgiving – November 27

The Real Deal: The first Thanksgiving feast was three days long, and turkey was probably replaced by deer and eel.

Why It’s Important Today: With a focus on family time, 93% of employees prioritize time off. But it’s also a time when retail employees face a shift in demand, making work schedules especially tricky.

Managing Your Workforce: Managing PTO fairness can be tough—who gets Thursday off and who gets Friday? And don’t forget about the customer service headaches that come with the post-Thanksgiving shopping rush.

Christmas Day – December 25

A Holiday with Pagan Roots:Christmas was initially a co-opted version of the Roman Saturnalia festival. Today, 70% of teams outside the U.S. work through it, even in countries with large Christian populations.

Why It’s Still a Big Deal: For global teams, juggling the U.S. shutdown with their schedules can cause chaos. And don’t forget the challenges of last-minute childcare needs.

Managing Your Workforce: Time zone headaches and coverage gaps for international teams are real, and managing childcare for employees with schools closed for two weeks adds another layer of complexity.

StaffViz Tips: Track international holiday schedules to filter by country and consider offering childcare grants to employees via payroll integrations.

Why Getting This Right Is Crucial

The secret to holiday success is that they are cultural cues. When done right, they increase employee morale, ground retention, and even improve productivity. However, neglecting these subtleties can lead to PTO conflicts, compliance pitfalls, and unhappy teams. 

StaffViz Cheat Codes:

Scenario Planning: Test holiday schedules quickly with “what-if” planning.

Culture Metrics: Track in which holidays matter most to your team.

Compliance Firewall: Automatically flags state and federal conflicts.

Ready to take 2025 by storm? With StaffViz, you can transform holiday chaos into smooth sailing. No capes require just smart tools.