As all Americans learn in civics class, Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States of American. “D.C.” stands for the District of Columbia, which is a federal district containing the city of Washington. Named after George Washington, our first President, D.C. is coextensive which, according to Wikipedia, means Washington and D.C. occupy the same territory and are governed by a single municipal government. Although Washington, D.C. is governed by a mayor and a city council, Congress has supreme authority over the city and the district, and has occasionally intervened on such policies as gun control and school issues.
To this end, employees follow the federal laws with regard to holiday pay. Workers are entitled to the ten federal holidays per year which are New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s and Washington’s birthdays, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. They are also entitled to the Monday holiday of District of Columbia Emancipation Day. This holiday, April 16th, marks the day President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which free 3,100 slaves owned by the citizens of the District of Columbia.
According to the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), employers are not required to pay holiday pay to their workers unless previously agreed upon at the time of employment. For example, federal contract employees are entitled to holiday pay if they have performed any work during the week in which the holidays falls. The employee is entitled to holiday pay regardless of whether or not the holiday falls on a Sunday or when the employee is on a day off from work, or if he is on paid vacation or sick leave. If an employee does not work during the week of the holiday, he is not entitled to holiday pay.
