Are employers allowed to require employees to work during public holidays?

In Virginia, employers are allowed to require employees to work on public holidays. However, the employer must compensate the employee for their work on the holiday. The employer must pay the employee at least twice the employee’s regular rate of pay for the hours they worked on the holiday, unless other state or federal laws require a higher rate of pay. Virginia law also requires employers to provide employees with sufficient advance notice if they plan on having them work on a public holiday. How much notice depends on the size of the employer. If the employer has more than four employees, they must give their employees at least seven calendar days notice. For employers with four or fewer employees, three calendar days of notice is required. Even if the employer tells the employee less than the required amount of notice, the employee must receive at least one full day of pay for the hours worked on the holiday. Employers who violate these rules can face significant penalties. They can be held liable for sizable fines if they fail to comply with the law and can also be forced to pay the employee any wages they were not properly compensated. If an employee believes they have been wrongfully denied the proper wages for working on a public holiday, they can file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

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Are employers allowed to require employees to work during public holidays?

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