November 1, 2023
2024 is right around the corner!
Already? I know, I know. I’m still mentally in 2021 so I get it.
Here at Paradigm, we’re always striving to infuse diversity and inclusivity into our company culture. As a fully remote workforce, it’s easy for work to blend with our everyday lives. That’s precisely why we’re making a conscious effort to include more inclusive holidays in our annual calendar. Check out the 2023 list here if you haven’t sorted your holidays yet for this season!
In our latest podcast episode, we dive into the importance of recognizing and celebrating a variety of cultural holidays. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to make a choice about which of these meaningful days your company will embrace. And if you haven’t set up a policy for flexible holidays, this is the perfect moment to consider it.
Becoming an inclusive company isn’t just about piling on more days off to our calendar (although, let’s be real, that wouldn’t be a bad idea). It’s about encouraging ourselves and our colleagues to make room for the experiences and values of different cultures and traditions, ones beyond what’s officially recognized. It’s an opportunity to learn from one another and appreciate the beauty of these diverse traditions.
Tune in to our podcast to learn more about the importance of this initiative.
Without further ado, here’s an updated list of holidays to consider observing in your small business in 2024:
Federally Recognized US Holidays
- Sunday, January 1, 2024: New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 2, 2024: New Year’s Day Observed
- Monday, January 15, 2024: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Civil Rights Day (New Hampshire & Arizona)
- Monday, February 19, 2024: Presidents’ Day
- Monday, May 27, 2024: Memorial Day
- Tuesday, June 19, 2024: Juneteenth
- Wednesday, July 4, 2024: Independence Day
- Monday, September 2, 2024: Labor Day
- Monday, October 14, 2024: Columbus Day
- Monday, November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 28, 2024: Thanksgiving Day
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Christmas Day
Holidays That Are Not Federally Recognized But May Be Important To You Or Your Team
- January 10: Lunar New Year
- March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
- March 12-April 10: Ramadan
- April 10: Eid-Al-Fitr
- May 5: Cinco De Mayo
- June 28: Pride Day (LGBTQ+)
- July 1: Canada Day
- September 11: 9/11 Remembrance Day
- September 14: Yom Kippur
- October 14: Indigenous People’s Day
- November 1: Dia De Los Muertos
- November 2: Diwali
- December 23: First Day Of Hanukkah
- December 26: Kwanzaa
- December 26: Boxing Day
Please note that the dates for holidays like Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Eid-Al-Fitr, and other culturally or religiously significant holidays may vary from year to year depending on the lunar calendar or other factors. It’s a good idea to check specific dates for these holidays in 2024 closer to the time.
Other Considerations For Inclusive Holidays
Setting up a Floating holiday option for your teammembers is a great way to create space for your team’s individual and culture views, without too many messy restrictions of creating otherness amongst the team.
We recommend creating a Floating holiday policy that allows for your team members to request days of observation at the beginning of each calendar year. Most of our clients provide 1-3 days of excused time off per year.
Avoid creating policies that require observation of things like birthdays, anniversaries, or assumed religious holidays. Providing a floating holiday creates predictability when accurately used, and we recommend you use floating holidays for annual events, versus one off occurrences.
Why Is Setting Up an Inclusive Holiday Plan Important For Your Team?
Want to know more about creating an inclusive approach to company culture with your company observed holidays? Listen to this episode of On the Up and Up.
