Knowing what holidays are coming up in the year ahead is essential for small business owners. Not only do you need to plan for your own operations, but you also need to be aware of the holiday landscape to plan and pay your employees.
In this article, you will find the 2023 holiday calendar, a detailed overview of Juneteenth, discuss holiday pay in certain industries, and examine the argument that US voting day should be a federal holiday.
Juneteenth’s History and Significance
Juneteenth (June 19) is a day of commemoration and celebration for African Americans. It marked the anniversary of enslaved people in Texas finally being granted freedom on June 19, 1865. This date occurred two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth has become a symbol of resilience and liberation throughout the United States. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, celebrations occur across cities nationwide. In addition to commemorating emancipation from slavery, Juneteenth is also celebrated as an important milestone in American civil rights history.
Holiday Pay in Certain Industries
Specific industries are required by law to pay employees time-and-a-half wages if they work on major holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. This includes retail stores and restaurants with more than 500 employees worldwide; hotels with more than 100 rooms; hospitals; nursing homes; transportation companies; oil refinery workers; and workers employed by large amusement parks or theme parks (as defined by federal labor laws).
All other employers are not legally mandated to pay their employees extra for working on holidays unless their contracts specify otherwise. However, many small businesses have included this as a paid holiday for their employees to minimize signs of burnout.
Therefore, it is critical to understand what kind of payment you will provide your employees throughout the year. Make sure to research local labor laws regarding overtime pay to ensure compliance with all regulations while still providing fair compensation for your staff.
Voting Day Controversy
Nearly two centuries ago, Congress decided to create Election Day in 1845 to keep democracy fair and equitable. This life-changing legislation had the primary purpose of warding off any issues with early voting results influencing turnout or swaying opinion in later states, which could have potentially determined the fate of national elections. By setting one day for everyone nationwide, the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, Congress ensured that each individual’s vote would carry the same weight.
There has been a growing movement in recent years that calls for making Election Day a federal holiday so that citizens have more time to exercise their right to vote without worrying about taking time off from work or school. There are numerous arguments both for and against this new holiday creation.
Proponents argue that giving citizens an extra day off would boost voter turnout significantly. At the same time, opponents claim it would be too costly and impractical due to logistical issues associated with running elections on one specific day each year. The debate continues; however, no changes have yet been made regarding this issue thus far.
Conclusion
Holidays are essential to any small business owner’s operations planning process, especially regarding payroll management and scheduling employee shifts accordingly. We hope you found this information useful. By getting familiar with all upcoming holidays now, you’ll be better prepared when it comes time to make those critical decisions in just a few short weeks.
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