There is no federal law in the United States that requires private employers to pay a premium rate, such as time and a half, for work performed on a holiday. Therefore, whether an employee receives extra pay for working on Patriots' Day depends on state law and individual employer policy. Patriots' Day is a state holiday recognized in Massachusetts and Maine, and entitlement to premium pay is dictated by the laws of those specific states or by the terms of an employment contract.
The primary legal framework governing wages is the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which mandates overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek but does not require extra pay for holiday work. Historically, Massachusetts had laws, commonly known as "Blue Laws," that required some retail establishments to pay a premium to employees working on certain state holidays. However, this provision was part of a gradual phase-out. As of January 1, 2023, the legal requirement for Massachusetts retailers to pay time and a half on state holidays, including Patriots' Day, has been eliminated. Maine law does not have a similar general mandate requiring private employers to pay premium rates for holiday work.
In practice, for most employees in the private sector, receiving premium pay for working on Patriots' Day is not a legal entitlement but rather a benefit offered at the employer's discretion. Company policy, as outlined in an employee handbook, or a collective bargaining agreement for unionized workers, will be the determining factor. An employee should consult these documents or their human resources department to verify their specific company's pay policy for this and other state holidays.
