Presidents Day can be a paid holiday, but it is not guaranteed for everyone.

The core answer

  • Presidents Day (officially Washington’s Birthday) is a federal holiday in the United States, which means:
    • Federal government employees generally get a paid day off.
    • Most federal offices (like federal courts and many government agencies) are closed.
  • For private‑sector and many state/local employees, whether it’s a paid holiday depends entirely on the employer’s policy and your specific job contract or union agreement.

So:

  • If you’re a federal employee, Presidents Day is effectively a paid holiday for you.
  • If you work in the private sector, it may be:
    • A paid day off.
    • A regular workday with no extra pay.
    • A workday with “holiday premium” pay (like time‑and‑a‑half), depending on the company.

How it usually works in practice

Think of it in three layers:

  1. Federal rules (the law)

    • Federal law lists Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day as one of the official federal holidays for federal employees.
    • That gives federal workers an automatic paid holiday, unless they’re in essential roles that must work; in that case they usually receive premium holiday pay instead of, or in addition to, another day off.

  2. State and local governments

    • Many states and cities choose to follow the federal calendar, so their government offices and some public schools close and treat it as a paid holiday for their employees.
    • Some states or districts don’t fully close, or they may use it as a professional development day or partial day; the pay treatment follows local policy and labor agreements.

  3. Private companies and nonprofits
    Common patterns:

    • Treat it as a full paid holiday , with offices closed.
    • Keep it a regular workday but allow employees to:
      • Use PTO/vacation time if they want the day off.
      • Take unpaid leave if approved.
    • Offer holiday differential pay (e.g., 1.5x) for working that day, especially in retail, hospitality, or 24/7 operations.

Because there’s no nationwide rule forcing private employers to pay for Presidents Day, two people in the same city can have completely different experiences: one enjoying a paid long weekend, another working a normal Monday.

What you should check for your situation

To know if you get Presidents Day as a paid holiday, look at:

  1. Your employee handbook or HR site
    • Check the “Paid Holidays” section.
    • Look for “Washington’s Birthday” or “Presidents Day” on the list for this year.
  2. Your offer letter or union contract
    • Many union contracts list specific holidays that must be paid and the premium rates if you work them.
  3. Ask HR or your supervisor directly
    • A simple “Is Presidents Day a paid holiday for my position?” will get a clear, company‑specific answer.
    • If you’re in a service, healthcare, or retail job, you might find it’s open but with special pay rules.

Quick recap:

  • Yes, Presidents Day is a paid holiday for federal employees.
  • For everyone else, it might be paid, unpaid, or just a normal workday depending on your employer’s policies.