Carnegie Mellon University

Holidays

Carnegie Mellon's U.S. campuses observe 11 official holidays. The university is closed on these days, and all non-essential personnel are not expected to report to work. Regular, full-time staff members may also take up to three floating holidays per calendar year.

Eligibility

The holiday benefit is available to U.S. regular, full-time staff members. Staff members whose employment terms are for four months or less are not regular full-time staff members. International locations may observe different holidays.

Holiday Schedule

Official University Holiday FY 2023–2024 (Observed*) FY 2024–2025 (Observed*)
Independence Day July 4, 2023 July 4, 2024
Labor Day September 4, 2023 September 2, 2024
Thanksgiving Day November 23, 2023 November 28, 2024
Day After Thanksgiving November 24, 2023 November 29, 2024
Christmas Eve December 25, 2023 December 24, 2024
Christmas Day December 26, 2023 December 25, 2024
New Year's Eve January 1, 2024 December 31, 2024
New Year's Day January 2, 2024 January 1, 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 15, 2024 January 20, 2025
Memorial Day May 27, 2024 May 26, 2025
Juneteenth June 19, 2024 June 19, 2025

*When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding day. (When the preceding day is also a holiday, both holidays are observed on preceding days.) When a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following work day.

Floating Holidays

U.S. regular, full-time staff members may take three floating holidays during the calendar year. These floating holidays may be taken on days of your choosing, with your supervisor's approval. 

For staff members in California, the use of floating holidays is restricted; staff members must designate the use of their floating holidays to specific events such as observing a religious or federal holiday not observed as an official university holiday, to support child care needs during school closures or breaks, or to celebrate a day of personal significance such as the staff member’s birthday, a family member’s birthday, or a relationship anniversary. Floating holidays may also be used contiguous to an official university holiday, scheduled PTO time, or any of the days noted above.

Eligibility

  • The floating holiday benefit is available to U.S. regular, full-time staff members. Staff members whose employment terms are for four months or less are not regular full-time staff members.
  • Some departments have policies regarding periods when some floating holidays must or may not be used. Check with your department to determine if such a policy exists in your area.
  • Unused floating holidays do not carry forward to the next calendar year. If they are not used, they will be lost. No payment for unused floating holidays is made to staff members who separate from the university. A staff member cannot use floating holidays on the last day of employment. 
  • For new staff members, the number of floating holidays you are entitled to is prorated based on your hire date.

Floating Holidays for New Staff Members 

  • Staff members who begin full-time employment by April 30 are entitled to three floating holidays during the remainder of the calendar year in which they are hired.
  • Those who begin by August 31 are entitled to two days in the remainder of that calendar year.
  • Those who begin by October 31 are entitled to one day in the remainder of that calendar year.
  • Staff members hired on or after November 1 are not eligible for floating holidays during the calendar year in which they are hired.
  • On January 1 of the calendar year following their date of hire, the employee's floating holidays will re-set to three for the new calendar year.

University Holidays — Early Dismissal

The guidelines listed below should also be followed when the university leadership team declares and authorizes full or partial day dismissal for situations outside of university holidays. When this occurs:

  • Non-exempt employees should report their pay for time not worked in accordance with the Early Dismissal guidelines below.
  • Exempt employees do not need to take any action to report the time.
  • Part-time exempt, nonexempt benefits-eligible and TES employees will receive separate and specific guidance.

At the discretion of the president and with the subsequent approval of the vice presidents and deans of each division or college, an early dismissal may be authorized on the working day prior to a university holiday allowing staff members to leave campus at 2 p.m. — provided it is acceptable to their supervisor, all time-critical work is completed and no urgent business is anticipated.

Based on the nature of duties and/or unexpected developments, some non-exempt staff members who are unable to leave early may take off alternate hours during that work week (at days and times designated by their supervisors). If operational demands require that exempt staff members be present after 2 p.m., the possibility of alternative time off will be determined by the employee's supervisor.

Additional guidelines involving the early dismissal are as follows:

  • This only applies to employees eligible for holiday pay. Part-time staff and Temporary Employment Service (TES) employees are not eligible for early dismissal.
  • When notified and approved by their supervisor, non-exempt employees shall record in Workday the time paid yet not worked utilizing the code Early Dismissal Holiday if leaving early on the working day before a university holiday. The early dismissal time plus the time worked should equal the scheduled work hours for that day. Refer to the following Workday guides for instructions:
  • This does not apply to employees represented by unions or contracted by vendors.
  • Supervisors should arrange for coverage for their offices as necessary and in a way that does not result in overtime expense.
  • Staff members not required to work are paid for the hours they were regularly scheduled to work.
  • The time provided for early dismissal is not considered PTO; therefore, a staff member’s PTO does not decrease. The time also does not accumulate, nor is it paid out when a staff member leaves the university.
  • Staff members who call off sick on the workday preceding the holiday will be required to take a full day of PTO. Similarly, staff members taking a vacation day will be required to take a full day of PTO. Also, a staff member who takes a half-day of vacation that day will be required to record it as a full half day off work.
  • The early dismissal does not apply to staff members who are on approved leave from the university.

If you have questions on timekeeping, please contact HR Services at 412-268-4600 or submit a request for assistance (Andrew ID login required) and create an HR/Payroll ticket.