Juneteenth to be observed by 30% of employers after first year as holiday

It’s been a year since Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, and a growing number of companies are recognizing it.

Some 30% of employers are expected to offer Juneteenth off this year, according to preliminary data from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The number represents significant growth as the holiday becomes better known and established.

All federal employees have Monday off after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, a bill declaring June 19 a federal holiday that marks the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States, although private employers are also taking note and quickly following suit.

In 2020, when the country was roiled by protests and riots following the murder of George Floyd, companies began examining Juneteenth more seriously. That year, some 8% of employers gave workers the day off, according to data from the IFEBP. Of the employers who offered Juneteenth as a holiday in 2020, the overwhelming majority (96%) did so for the first time that year.