what does legal holiday mean for benefits?

[mamacita2]

what does legal holiday for job benefits mean? i see people taking legal holiday for work when it's not holiday. does it mean people can put in for legal holiday and not come into work but still get paid??

[wooh, BSN, RN]

It all depends on your workplace and the benefits they offer. Check with your facility's HR.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In my organization, they're called "recognized holidays" that means that you get paid (8 hrs) for that day. Employees are entitled to that time off, even if they have to work on the actual holiday... they just indicate on their time card when they want to claim it. Our policy says you have to take it within 45 days of the actual holiday (up to 15 days before or 30 days after), otherwise you have to get special permission from your supervisor if you can't take it during that time period.

There are no required 'legal holidays' in the US. Employers don't even have to offer holidays or vacation days. Faith-based organizations may recognize Easter, Yom Kippur, Ascension Day, etc.... others may have customized 'holidays' like your birthday or 'Ski Day' (actual holiday for a company I know in Oregon).

Check your own HR policies - your mileage may vary.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

in my facility it means you get 8 hours added to your PTO (paid time off) bank. If you work that day you also get paid for working. So you would not collect the 8 hours in your PTO bank till you take a day off.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I didn't know what it meant because I've never worked in a facility that used that terminology. Every place I've ever worked utilized a PTO system with all of your paid time off- sick time, vacation time and holidays- rolled into one. When I worked in the hospital, all the true "salaried" employees (like managers, educators, clinical nurse specialists, NPs, clinic employees) didn't have to work on hospital recognized holidays but they had to use their PTO to cover the day. In my current job, our office closes on certain holidays and we have to use our PTO to cover the day.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

It means that I could use the holiday as 8 hours' work and then only have to work 3 more shifts that week to make 32 hours for the entire week (considered full-time where I am). Of course, that 8 hours' pay for taking the legal holiday would only be at the base rate with no differentials. If I were to actually work on the holiday, then I'd qualify for double-time plus diffs.

Or I could opt to work 4 other shifts that week and save the holiday to use for another time--I am allowed to use that holiday anytime within that calendar month (e.g., can only use a January holiday in January). Again, I'd only get the base rate with no diffs whenever I decided to use it.

So sometimes I work the holiday and get the extra pay, sometimes I take it and take the day off, and sometimes I save the holiday for when I know I need another day off in that month.

Like others have said, facility P&P may vary, so what happens at my workplace may not happen at yours. The most accurate answer for you and your facility would come from your HR department.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

At places I've worked holidays pay you time and a half if you work on them. We also have unit based holiday comittments (ex 1 winter and one summer holiday, or every other holiday, or 1 major 1 minor holiday). I don't think I've worked anywhere that gave 8 hours of time just for the holiday.