I. PURPOSE

This notice announces the Federal holidays in Calendar Year 2022, the methods for determining the day of observance when a holiday falls on a non-workday, and the dates that employees are to observe holidays when their shifts span 2 calendar days.

II. LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Federal law establishes the following as legal public holidays:

1. New Year’s Day, January 1

   Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January

   Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February

   Memorial Day, the last Monday in May

   Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19

   Independence Day, July 4

   Labor Day, the first Monday in September

   Columbus Day, the second Monday in October

   Veterans Day, November 11

   Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November

   Christmas Day, December 25

Attachment 1 lists the dates Agency employees will observe each holiday in 2022, based on work schedules.

III. DETERMINING DAY FOR OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLIDAY

The day set for an employee's observance of a holiday depends on the employee's tour of duty and the status of the day on which the holiday falls.  If a holiday falls on a scheduled workday, employees observe the holiday on that day.  When a holiday falls on a day on which employees are not scheduled to work, a day is designated as an in lieu of holiday.  Agencies do not  have discretion for designating in lieu of holidays; they are to follow procedures prescribed by Executive Order (i.e., E.O. 11582).

A. The general rule for identifying in lieu of holidays is as follows:

1. If the holiday falls on a Sunday non-workday, employees observe the holiday on their next scheduled workday.
2. If the holiday falls on a non-workday other than Sunday, employees observe the holiday on the preceding workday.   

B. The exception to this general rule applies to employees who work a schedule that includes Sunday as part of their basic workweek.  For these employees, the rule for identifying in lieu of holidays is as follows:

1. If the holiday falls on a Friday non-workday, employees observe the holiday on their next scheduled workday.  For example, the employee’s work schedule is Sunday through Thursday.  Veteran’s Day falls on Friday, November 11, during the 2022 calendar year.  The employee would observe the holiday on Sunday, November 13.
2. If the holiday falls on a non-workday other than Friday (i.e., Saturday), employees observe the holiday on the preceding workday.

C. Employees who are relieved or prevented from working on the holiday are entitled to basic pay for the number of hours of the basic tour of duty they would have worked if the day had not been a holiday.

1. For full-time employees under a Maxiflex schedule, employees are credited with a maximum of 8 hours of basic pay on the holiday even if they would normally work more hours on that day.
2. For employees under compressed work schedules, if a holiday falls on a 9- or 10-hour day, the employees’ holiday is 9 or 10 hours, respectively.

D. Employees who are required to work on the holiday are entitled to holiday premium pay for the hours worked within their basic tour of duty.  This premium pay is in addition to their basic pay. Employees under a Maxiflex schedule may only receive holiday premium pay for up to 8 hours of work.

E. For inspection program personnel (IPP), the inspector-in-charge (IIC) or the supervisor is to notify the establishment official of specific calendar days IPP will take as holidays according to the provisions in this notice.  The IIC or supervisor is to post a notice on the bulletin board in the Government office, of the scheduled holidays employees will observe.  Attachment 1 may be used for this purpose.

IV. SHIFTS SPANNING TWO CALENDAR DAYS

A. Some IPP have work schedules that span 2 calendar days, (e.g., the shift begins at 11 p.m. and runs through 7:30 a.m. the next day). By Executive Order 11582, the holiday is to be observed on the day on which the holiday begins.  For example, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 24.  Employees whose shift spans 2 calendar days would report for work Wednesday night, November 23, and work as usual into Thursday (Thanksgiving) morning.  These employees would observe the Thanksgiving holiday on the shift that begins on Thursday night, November 24, at 11 p.m.

B. The Agency is to follow the instructions established by Executive Order 11582.  Although the day on which these employees are to observe the holiday does not necessarily coincide with the day on which an establishment observes the holiday, FSIS does not have the authority to adjust the day of observance for its employees, nor does it have the authority to instruct an establishment when to observe the holiday.

V. INTERMITTENT EMPLOYEES

Intermittent employees do not have a regularly scheduled tour of duty and are not entitled to holiday pay or leave for Federal holidays.  However, these employees do receive basic pay for hours of work performed on a holiday (e.g., an intermittent employee who works 4 hours on a holiday would receive 4 hours of basic pay).

VI. PART-TIME EMPLOYEES

Part-time employees are paid for a holiday when it falls on a day included in their regularly scheduled tour of duty.  If they are excused from duty on a holiday, they receive basic pay for all hours of the day’s scheduled tour of duty.  If they work on the holiday, they receive holiday premium pay for hours worked in addition to basic pay.  While part-time employees are not entitled to in lieu of holidays, they may be given administrative leave if they are prevented from working on the in lieu of holiday.

VII. QUESTIONS

Refer questions to the Human Capital Planning and Accountability Branch in the Office of Management, Office of Human Resources, Human Resources Business Systems Division at FSISHR1@usda.gov; include Federal Holiday Policy in the subject line. You may also call 1-877-FSIS-HR1 (1-877-374-7471); select option 1 and then option 4.

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