When a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, the legal holiday is observed and UW System is closed on the Monday following the legal holiday.
Eligible employees are granted eight hours of floating legal holiday when: (a) a legal holiday falls on a Saturday or (b) a legal holiday falls on a Sunday and the following Monday is also a legal holiday.
Current · Historical
The State of Wisconsin grants nine days of paid legal holidays per calendar year to eligible employees.
| 2024 Legal Holidays | When Observed |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day, January 1 | Monday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Third Monday in January | Monday, January 15 |
| Memorial Day, Last Monday in May | Monday, May 27 |
| Independence Day, July 4 | Thursday, July 4 |
| Labor Day, First Monday in September | Monday, September 2 |
| Thanksgiving, Fourth Thursday in November | Thursday, November 28 |
| Christmas Eve, December 24 | Tuesday, December 24 |
| Christmas, December 25 | Wednesday, December 25 |
| New Year's Eve, December 31 | Tuesday, December 31 |
Note: 2024 is a leap year, with the addition of Thursday, February 29.
| 2025 Legal Holidays | When Observed |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day, January 1 | Wednesday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Third Monday in January | Monday, January 20 |
| Memorial Day, Last Monday in May | Monday, May 26 |
| Independence Day, July 4 | Friday, July 4 |
| Labor Day, First Monday in September | Monday, September 1 |
| Thanksgiving, Fourth Thursday in November | Thursday, November 27 |
| Christmas Eve, December 24 | Wednesday, December 24 |
| Christmas, December 25 | Thursday, December 25 |
| New Year's Eve, December 31 | Wednesday, December 31 |
Floating holiday time can be used any time during the calendar year in which it is earned. January 1 floating holiday cannot be used until the year it is earned. Legal and floating holiday hours should be used in the calendar year in which they are granted. There are no provisions that allow University Staff employees to carryover floating holiday time into the next calendar year. Thus, individuals should use their floating holiday time before using vacation time.
Floating holiday time can be used any time during the fiscal year in which it is earned. This means that a 'January 1' floating holiday can be used anytime in the fiscal year it is earned. Unused floating holiday time is lost after June 30. Thus, individuals should use their floating holiday time before using vacation time.