Most people in the U.S. do not automatically get MLK Day off; it is a federal holiday, but whether you personally work depends on your employer’s policy.

What MLK Day Is

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January each year.
  • In 2026, the federal listing shows Monday, January 19, as “Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.” for U.S. government employees.

Who Definitely Has The Day Off

  • Federal government offices and many state/local government offices close on MLK Day.
  • The U.S. Postal Service and most banks are closed, and major U.S. stock exchanges do not trade that day.

Who Usually Still Works

  • Many private companies, restaurants, retail stores, and groceries remain open and operate on normal or slightly adjusted hours.
  • Surveys have shown that only around half of U.S. employers give the day fully off; others treat it as a regular workday or a “floating” holiday.

How To Know If You Work

  • Check your company’s official holiday calendar or HR handbook for whether “Martin Luther King Jr. Day” or “Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.” is listed as a paid holiday.
  • If it isn’t clear, ask your manager or HR directly; some employers offer volunteer time or partial closure instead of a full day off.

Quick Forum-Style Take

“Do we work on MLK Day?”
Answer most people give: “It’s a federal holiday, so government folks are off, but it totally depends on your company—check your holiday schedule or HR.”

TL;DR: Yes, MLK Day is a federal holiday, but whether you personally work on it is decided by your employer’s policy, not by the holiday itself.