Does Working on a Holiday Automatically Mean Overtime Pay?
October 23, 2026
No — under the FLSA, working on a holiday doesn't automatically trigger overtime pay. Overtime is based strictly on total hours worked exceeding 40 in a workweek, regardless of which specific days those hours fall on, including holidays.
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An employee works their normal 40 hours across the week, including a shift on a holiday that falls within that week, with no additional hours beyond 40.
- Total hours: 40 — no overtime, since the 40-hour threshold isn't exceeded, regardless of the holiday
Where Holiday Premium Pay Actually Comes From
Any extra pay for working on a holiday (sometimes called "holiday premium pay") is typically a matter of employer policy or union contract, not a federal legal requirement — the FLSA itself doesn't mandate extra pay simply for working on a holiday, only the standard overtime calculation based on total weekly hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does working on a holiday automatically trigger overtime pay?
No — FLSA overtime depends strictly on total weekly hours exceeding 40, regardless of which days those hours fall on.
What's the overtime for a normal 40-hour week that includes a holiday shift?
None — 40 hours is at, not over, the threshold.
Where does extra holiday pay come from, if not the FLSA?
Typically employer policy or union contract, not a federal legal requirement.
Does FLSA require any holiday-specific pay premium?
No — it doesn't mandate extra pay simply for working on a holiday.