Policy 3110: Holidays with Pay
Category: Human Resources
Subcategory: Benefits
Covered Individuals: Benefit-Eligible Employees
Responsible Executive: Vice President & Chief of Staff
Policy Custodian: Office of Human Resources, Sr. Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Last Revised: 2026/09/18
Previous USU Policy Number: 353
Download the PDF File for Policy 3110
3110.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
In compliance with the Utah Board of Higher Education, Utah State University (USU) has designated specific days to be observed as university holidays. Benefit-eligible employees (see USU Policy 3302: Benefited Employment) receive a total of 14 (fourteen) paid holidays each calendar year.
3110.2 POLICY
2.1 Holidays
The specific dates of university holidays will be posted on the USU Holiday Calendar website at least 12 (twelve) months prior to the beginning of each calendar year.
The University designates the following as paid holidays:
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| Presidents’ Day | Third Monday in February |
| Good Friday* | Friday preceding Easter Sunday |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Juneteenth National Freedom Day | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Pioneer Day | July 24 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Day After Thanksgiving | Friday after Thanksgiving |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
| USU Holiday Break *All university holidays are 8 (eight) hours with the |
Two (2) additional days as indicated in Section 2.2.2 |
2.2 Variations in Standard Holiday Schedule
2.2.1 Weekend Holiday Observation
University holidays that occur on a weekend are observed as follows:
- Holidays falling on a Saturday are observed on the preceding Friday.
- Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed on the following Monday.
- New Year's Day Exception: When January 1 occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, New Year's Day is observed on the following Monday to ensure the correct number of paid holidays each calendar year.
2.2.2 USU Holiday Break Days
USU provides 2 (two) paid holiday break days at the end of each calendar year as part of the University’s 14 (fourteen) paid holidays.
Holiday break days must occur on regular university workdays (Monday-Friday). Holiday break days are determined based on the weekday on which the Christmas Day holiday is observed.
Holiday break days will be scheduled on the nearest workdays surrounding the observed Christmas Day holiday. Holiday break days may occur immediately before Christmas Day, immediately after Christmas Day, or one on each side, depending on how the calendar year aligns. If December 24 is a workday, it is typically assigned as the first holiday break day. When the observed Christmas Day holiday falls on a Friday, or when December 25 occurs on a weekend and is observed on a Friday or Monday, the second Holiday break day may occur later in the final week of December to align with the New Year’s holiday. In such years, the second holiday break day may occur as late as December 30 or December 31 to ensure that both holiday break days occur on a workday.
The following table illustrates the typical pattern for selecting the holiday break days based on the day the Christmas Day holiday is observed.
| Observed Christmas Holiday | Break Day 1 | Break Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| December 25 (Monday) | December 26 (Tuesday) | December 27 (Wednesday) |
| December 25 (Tuesday) | December 24 (Monday) | December 26 (Wednesday) |
| December 25 (Wednesday) | December 24 (Tuesday) | December 26 (Thursday) |
| December 25 (Thursday) | December 24 (Wednesday) | December 26 (Friday) |
| December 25 (Friday) | December 24 (Thursday) | December 31 (Thursday) |
| December 24* (Friday) | December 27 (Monday) | December 31 (Friday) |
| December 26* (Monday) *Indicates the observed Christmas holiday |
December 23 (Friday) | December 30 (Friday) |
2.2.3 Holiday Observance Adjustment for Employee Work Schedules
If a holiday occurs on an employee's regularly scheduled days off, the employee may observe the holiday on another workday, ideally within the same pay period, with supervisor approval.
Eligible employees who are required to work on a recognized university holiday are entitled to an alternative paid day off during the same pay period, with supervisory approval.
2.3 Holiday Compensation
Full-time benefit-eligible employees will receive their normal compensation for observed university holidays (based on an 8-hour day). Part-time benefit-eligible employees will receive compensation in proportion to the percentage of their appointment (i.e., 50%, 75%, etc.)
2.4 Religious Observance Days
USU recognizes employees may observe various religious holidays, practices, or obligations, and therefore may request time off for religious observance. Requests must be made in advance and approved by the supervisor. If the leave is paid, it will be deducted from vacation leave.
3110.3 RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 The Office of Human Resources
Post the annual holiday schedule on the USU Holiday Calendar website at least 12 (twelve) months prior to the start of each calendar year. The Office of Human Resources will consult with the Provost Office when extraordinary circumstances or significant operational changes require adjustments to the established holiday schedule.
3110.4 REFERENCES
3110.5 RELATED USU POLICIES
3110.6 DEFINITIONS
6.1 Benefit-Eligible Employee
An employee who is budgeted and eligible for all USU benefits and works at least 20 hours a week. Employees eligible only for medical coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are not considered fully benefit-eligible.
Information below is not included as part of the contents of the official policy. It is provided only as a convenience for readers/users and may be changed at any time by persons authorized by the president.
RESOURCES
Contacts
POLICY HISTORY
Original issue date: 1997/01/24
Last review date: 2026/09/18
Next scheduled review date: 2029/08/01
Previous revision dates: 1997/01/24, 1999/07/01, 2022/10/14