The dates for observing Maine State Government holidays are the dates of observance established by law for the Maine courts (4 MRSA, §1051). Employees are generally granted time off, with pay, on the legal holidays listed below:
| New Year’s Day | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| Presidents’ Day1 | Third Monday in February |
| Patriot’s Day | Third Monday in April |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May2 |
| Juneteenth | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Indigenous Peoples Day | Second Monday in October |
| Veterans Day | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day3 | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Thanksgiving Friday3 | Fourth Friday in November |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
1 Identified as Washington's Birthday in the cited statute.
2 Will change to May 30 if enacted in Federal law.
3 Not identified in the cited statute.
Any legal holiday falling on a Saturday is observed on the preceding Friday. Any legal holiday falling on a Sunday is observed on the following Monday.
In order to receive holiday compensation, employees must be in pay status on the normal workday immediately preceding and the normal workday immediately following the day and date on which the holiday is observed. Employees who are on unpaid leave of absence are not entitled to holiday compensation (there is a limited exception for employees on voluntary unpaid leave either before or after a holiday, but not both).
Compensation for employees who are required to work on a holiday is governed by the terms of the applicable collective bargaining agreement or, in the case of employees whose positions are not assigned to a bargaining unit, Civil Service Rules. (Reference annual holiday bulletins.)
The implications of holiday time with respect to the computation of overtime vary among bargaining units. Agency human resource representatives should be consulted regarding overtime considerations.
Part-time employees’ holiday compensation is prorated in accordance with agency practices.
NOTE: The method for computing Holiday compensation for Intermittent employees is provided in Civil Service Rules (Ch. 2, Sec. 4., C.). As is the case with part-time employees, the established method may vary among agencies. Agency human resource representatives should be consulted.
Non-status, Acting Capacity, and Project employees do not receive the same holiday benefit as other state employees. Acting capacity appointees do not receive holiday pay until the completion of 90 days in an acting capacity appointment. Project appointees do not receive any form of holiday compensation. [Note: A narrowly defined exception became effective 07/01/99, which provides that if a seasonal employee is appointed to an acting capacity assignment, holiday, sick, and vacation benefits will begin upon appointment.]
Accommodation for the observance of significant religious holidays is addressed in Personnel Bulletin 11.4B (06/23/80). The State of Maine recognizes the necessity of making reasonable accommodations to meet the religious needs of employees, and prospective employees, whenever such accommodation does not result in an undue hardship upon the employing state agency. In accordance with this policy, agencies must make reasonable attempts to accommodate employees requesting time off to observe their religious holidays. Accommodation includes, but is not limited to, approved voluntary exchanges of work schedules among employees, the use of approved leave time (such as vacation, compensatory time, or personal leave days), or leave without pay. Employees must request time off in advance to allow adequate time to address scheduling issues.
The most current Holiday Schedule
070809JTC
022210JTC