Glossary

Public Holiday

A public holiday (also known as a national holiday or legal holiday) is an official day off recognized by a country's government. On these days, most employees are entitled to paid leave, and many businesses close or operate with reduced staff.

Key Characteristics

  • Legally mandated: Employers are typically required to give employees the day off or provide additional compensation for working.
  • Paid time off: Most employees receive their regular pay without working.
  • Nationwide observance: The entire country (or region) observes the same day off.

Impact on Workforce Planning

For businesses using time tracking software like Sandtime.io, public holidays affect:

  • Capacity planning: Fewer working days in months with public holidays mean adjusted project timelines.
  • Payroll calculations: Holiday pay may differ from regular working day rates.
  • Timesheet accuracy: Employees should not log regular working hours on public holidays unless specifically required to work.

Examples

Common public holidays include:

  • New Year's Day (January 1)
  • Independence Day (varies by country)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)
  • Labor Day / May Day (May 1 in many countries)

Public holidays differ from federal holidays (which may only apply to government employees), bank holidays (a UK-specific term), and observances (which are not official days off).

Related Terms

Explore other time tracking and workforce management definitions.

Annual Leave

The paid holiday an employee is entitled to each year for rest, with a statutory minimum in most countries (at least four weeks under the EU directive).

Read more →

Bank Holiday

Days when banks and financial institutions are closed. In the UK, this term is synonymous with public holidays.

Read more →

Federal Holiday

Holidays established by a national government, primarily affecting government offices and federally-regulated employers.

Read more →

Observance

Notable dates that are not official days off. These do not affect work schedules unless an employer chooses to recognize them.

Read more →

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