Holiday pay in California is not mandated by state law for private employers. Employers are not required to pay extra or premium pay just because an employee works on a holiday. The regular pay rate applies unless the employee works overtime. Key points about holiday pay in California:
- Employers can choose to provide a paid day off or pay a premium (e.g., time-and-a-half or double time) for hours worked on a holiday as an incentive, but this is voluntary.
- If an employee works more than 8 hours in a day, over 40 hours in a week, or on the seventh consecutive day of work, overtime rules apply. Overtime pay rates are:
- 1.5 times the regular pay for hours worked over 8 up to 12 hours in a day.
- Double time for hours worked over 12 in a day or over 8 hours on the seventh consecutive day.
- Public sector employees and unionized workers may have specific holiday pay rules governed by collective bargaining agreements.
- Employers may provide paid holidays off for certain recognized holidays but are not required to do so for private employees.
In summary, while many employers voluntarily offer holiday pay as a benefit, California law does not require it except for standard overtime pay rules if hours exceed thresholds during holidays.
