Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024: Will Americans Get a Day off Work?
As the annual celebration of Columbus Day approaches on Monday, October 14, many Americans are left wondering if they will have the day off. Originally intended to mark Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America, Columbus Day has evolved in recent years to also honour Indigenous Peoples’ Day, recognising the civilizations that existed in America prior to Columbus’s arrival.
While federal holidays often mean a long weekend for some, not all Americans are guaranteed time off work for Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It is more common for employers to grant paid time off for holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day, rather than these particular occasions.
Federal employees are assured a paid day off as government offices will be closed. Most banks are also likely to be closed, allowing bank employees to enjoy a paid day off. However, whether other workers receive the day off with pay is at their employer’s discretion.
According to a 2023 report from the Pew Research Center, only 16 states and the territory of American Samoa officially observe the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. Some states, such as Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington, DC, have renamed the holiday Indigenous Peoples’ Day while still retaining it as an official day off.
Columbus Day became a US federal holiday in 1937 following efforts by Roman Catholic Italian Americans to establish Columbus as a significant figure in American history. The holiday was later moved to the second Monday in October beginning in 1971.
For more information on US federal holidays, a list of this year’s holidays can be found here.