4.1 Holidays

This policy was last updated December 20, 2023. See the update history page for more information.

4.1.1 Recognized Institute Holidays

The following are recognized Institute holidays and the days on which the Institute is closed to observe them.

Recognized HolidayDate
New Year's DayJanuary 1
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday3rd Monday in January
Presidents Day3rd Monday in February
Patriot's Day3rd Monday in April
Memorial DayLast Monday in May
JuneteenthJune 19
Independence DayJuly 4
Labor Day1st Monday in September
Indigenous Peoples' Day2nd Monday in October
Veterans DayNovember 11
Thanksgiving Day4th Thursday in November
Christmas DayDecember 25
The Institute also grants a thirteenth holiday each year, with the day celebrated to be announced by the Institute.


See the current year's actual holiday dates.

A holiday which falls on a Sunday is observed on the following Monday. A holiday which falls on a Saturday is observed on the previous Friday, unless the Institute designates another day as the holiday.

From time to time, the Institute may close to observe some special occasion, often in conjunction with a recognized Institute holiday. A special holiday closing is paid differently than a recognized Institute holiday. See Section 5.7 for the details of the Special Holiday Closings policy.

HOLIDAY PAY POLICIES FOR SUPPORT STAFF

The Institute pays its employees for the thirteen holidays mentioned above. Only necessary work as determined by a Department Head or manager is performed on a holiday.

4.1.2 Eligibility for Holiday Pay

All full-time employees (regular and term) are eligible for holiday pay provided they are in pay status for the work day preceding and the work day following the holiday. Employees on paid leave, such as vacation, sick leave, etc., are considered to be in pay status for this purpose. (Exceptions to this policy noted in 4.1.5 below.)

Part-time employees (regular and term) are eligible for holiday pay provided they are:

  1. regularly scheduled to work 50% or more of the normal departmental work schedule, and
  2. in pay status for the work day preceding and the work day following the holiday, if they were scheduled to work on those days.

4.1.3 Computation of Holiday Pay

Full-time and part-time employees are paid at their regular, straight-time rates for the greater of:

  1. the number of hours the employee is regularly scheduled to work on the day on which the holiday falls, or
  2. one-fifth of the number of hours the employee is regularly scheduled to work per week, rounded off to the nearest quarter hour.

4.1.4 Computation of Holiday Pay for Holiday Worked

Full-time and part-time employees who are required to work on a holiday are paid the premium rate of one and one-half times their regular straight-time rate for the number of hours worked on the holiday, in addition to holiday pay as determined in 4.1.3 above.

4.1.5 Holiday During Paid Leave

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on a regular work day during a vacation, paid Sick Time period, or any other paid leave period in which the employee is paid their full regular wage or salary, the day is paid as a holiday, and is not counted against paid leave balances. A holiday that falls within a period of Serious Illness Reduced Pay, Bonding Leave or any other leave paid at the State Formula Rate under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, and any Military Leave is not paid as a holiday but rather is paid at the rate for that particular leave.

4.1.6 Holiday During Unpaid Leave

If a recognized Institute holiday falls within an authorized leave without pay period that does not exceed the duration of the normal pay period, an employee is paid for the holiday.

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on a Monday on which an employee is scheduled to return to work from an authorized leave without pay of any duration, and the employee returns to work on the holiday or on their next scheduled work day, the employee is paid for the holiday.

4.1.7 Holiday Pay for New or Terminating Support Staff Employees

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on a Monday and a new employee is scheduled to start work, and the employee starts work on their next scheduled work day, the employee is paid for the holiday.

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on the last available scheduled work day of a pay period, and the employee is terminating on their preceding work day, the employee is paid for the holiday.

HOLIDAY PAY POLICIES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPONSORED RESEARCH STAFF

4.1.8 Holiday Pay

Staff members are paid for recognized Institute holidays as part of their semimonthly salary, when they are in pay status.

4.1.9 Holiday During Vacation, Sick Leave, SIRP, and Other Leaves

If a recognized Institute holiday falls during a staff member's vacation, a sick leave paid by the employee's accrued Sick Time, or MIT's Paid Parental Leave, the day is paid as a holiday, and is not counted against vacation, Sick Time, or Paid Parental Leave allowances. If an Institute holiday falls during a period of sick or family leave paid as Serious Illness Reduced Pay or at the State Formula Rate, the employee is not eligible for the holiday.

4.1.10 Holiday During Unpaid Leave

If a recognized Institute holiday falls during an authorized leave without pay period, a staff member is not paid for the holiday.

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on the day a staff member is scheduled to return to work from an authorized leave without pay of any duration, and the staff member returns to work on the holiday or on their next scheduled work day, the employee is paid for the holiday.

4.1.11 Holiday Pay for New and Terminating Staff Members

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on the first available work day of a pay period, and a new staff member is scheduled to start work, and the staff member starts work on their next scheduled work day, the staff member is paid from the first day of the pay period, including the holiday.

If a recognized Institute holiday falls on the last available scheduled work day of the pay period, and the staff member is terminating on their preceding work day, the staff member is paid to the end of the pay period, including the holiday.