Human Resource Blog

Vacation/Holiday State Requirements

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In the state of Maryland, is it required for employers to offer holiday and vacation to employees?

No. There is no Maryland or federal law that requires employers to offer paid vacations or holidays. Nor is there a Maryland or federal law that requires employers to offer paid sick leave or personal days. Many employers do offer such benefits, but they are completely voluntary. In fact, with very few exceptions for certain occupations, there is no state where paid vacations and holidays are required.

If there is an employment contract in place, or an employer has the policy of providing holiday pay or paid vacations, then in some cases the Maryland Division of Labor & Industry will enforce that agreement.

A few states have recently debated bills that would make paid sick leave mandatory. However, none has been passed so far.

Maryland has an unusual law that retail employees in the private sector are entitled to one day off per week to practice the religion of their choice. The day is unpaid, and the employee must inform the employer in advance, in writing. So for example, a Christian employee could request Sunday off, or a Jewish employee could request every Saturday off. Again, that is only in the retail industry.

Read more about the Maryland holiday pay law at: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/wpholpay.htm