10/12/2026
🇺🇸 Are you getting paid to stay home today? Or are you reading this from work? 👀
I had no idea how differently states handle Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Here’s the deal: It’s a federal holiday, but that doesn’t mean everybody gets a paid day off.
💰 By the numbers: According to Pew Research Center, just 20 states recognize today as a paid holiday for state employees.
The 20 states:
Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
📍 And here’s where it gets interesting:
🔹 Delaware: State workers get a floating holiday instead. They can use that paid day off another time.
🔹 Tennessee: They traded today’s holiday for the Friday after Thanksgiving. Hello, four-day weekend!
🔹 Oklahoma: Recognizes Oklahoma Native American Day, but it’s not a paid state holiday.
One important distinction: These rules apply to state employees. Private employers can make their own decisions about paid holidays.
💭 My question for you:
Are you OFF today, WORKING today, or wondering why everyone else seems to have the day off? 😂
And here’s another thought: Should everyone get the same federal holidays off with pay, regardless of where they work?
👇 Tell me what state you’re in and whether you got the day off. I’m curious how this plays out across the country!
📊 Source: Pew Research Center
