Can I observe Columbus Day instead of attending in service day?

Full question:

I am a teacher in a central New Jersey school system who is being asked to attend an in service day on a federal holiday (Columbus Day). I chose to observe the federal holiday with my family and not attend the scheduled in service program. The school district was closed for students. Only teachers were expected to report to the school. Will I be penalized? What rights do I have to observe a federal holiday?

  • Category: Employment
  • Date:
  • State: New Jersey

Answer:

There is no federal law mandating employers to provide time off for nationally recognized holidays. While employers must reasonably accommodate employees' religious observances unless it causes undue hardship to the business, this does not apply to federal holidays in general.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

There is no federal law requiring employers to provide time off for federal holidays, including Columbus Day. Therefore, schools can schedule in-service days on these holidays. However, whether teachers must attend may depend on the specific policies of their school district.