It’s a weird Monday in November. You drive to the bank, and the doors are locked. You check the mail, and the box is empty. But then you look across the street, and the Target parking lot is absolutely slammed. People are everywhere. This is the annual confusion of Veterans Day. Because it is a federal holiday, but it isn’t a "shut down the whole country" holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving. Honestly, figuring out who has Veterans Day off feels like a guessing game every single year.
It's a day of honor, sure. We celebrate the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. But in the practical, "do I have to set my alarm?" sense, the answer depends entirely on who signs your paycheck and which state you call home.
The Federal Rule: Who definitely gets the day off?
Since Veterans Day is one of the eleven official federal holidays recognized by the United States government, all non-essential federal employees are off. This isn't up for debate. If you work for a federal agency—think the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or the Department of Energy—you’re likely enjoying a paid day of rest.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is the biggest indicator for most people. There is no regular mail delivery on Veterans Day. If you’re waiting on a package from a private carrier like UPS or FedEx, that’s a different story, as those are private corporations. But the blue trucks stay parked. Federal courts are also closed. If you had a date for jury duty, you can probably breathe a sigh of relief, though you should always check your specific summons.
Public schools are a toss-up. It’s frustrating. In states like Illinois, many schools are required to close, while in other places, districts stay open but use the day to hold assemblies or veteran-focused curriculum. You've basically got to check your local district calendar by August if you want to plan a family trip.
The Private Sector: A different world entirely
This is where things get messy. Most private-sector workers in the U.S. do not have Veterans Day off as a paid holiday. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and private HR surveys like those from SHRM, only about 20% to 25% of private employers offer Veterans Day as a paid day off.
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Compare that to Memorial Day or Labor Day, where nearly 90% of businesses close. Why the discrepancy? It's often a matter of "holiday bloat." Many companies trade Veterans Day for the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) or a floating holiday. It’s not that they don't value veterans; it’s just that the business cycle doesn't always stop in mid-November.
Retail and hospitality never sleep. If you work in a mall, a restaurant, or a movie theater, you are almost certainly working. In fact, for many veterans, the day is busier than usual because so many restaurants—Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Starbucks, to name a few—offer free meals or discounts to former service members. Someone has to flip the burgers and pour the coffee for those events.
The Banking and Finance Loophole
Banks are interesting. Because they follow the Federal Reserve’s schedule, most brick-and-mortar banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo close their branches. You can still use the ATM or the app, obviously. But if you need a cashier’s check or a sit-down meeting with a loan officer, you're out of luck.
The stock market stays open. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq do not close on Veterans Day. If you're a day trader or work in high-level finance, you're probably staring at a glowing screen all day while the post office employees are at a parade. It’s a strange divide in the financial world.
State by State: The laws you didn't know existed
Did you know some states actually have laws about this? It’s true. In Iowa, for example, there is a specific law that requires private employers to provide veterans with the day off—though it doesn't necessarily have to be paid. The veteran has to provide at least 30 days' notice and prove their service.
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Massachusetts has "Blue Laws" that affect retail openings on holidays, though these have been significantly relaxed over the last decade. Still, in many New England towns, you'll find a much quieter atmosphere on November 11th than you would in, say, Phoenix or Dallas.
Why the date actually matters
Veterans Day is always November 11th. It marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. For a brief period in the 1970s, the government tried to move it to a Monday to give people a three-day weekend, much like we do with Presidents' Day.
People hated it.
Veterans groups argued that the date held sacred historical significance. By 1978, President Gerald Ford signed a law moving it back to November 11th. This is why, when the 11th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal "observed" holiday moves to Friday or Monday, but the "real" day stays put. This adds another layer of confusion to who has Veterans Day off because some offices follow the actual date while others follow the observed one.
The "Essential" Worker Reality
Police, fire departments, and hospitals never close. Not for Veterans Day, not for Christmas. These "essential" roles often include a high percentage of veterans themselves. It is a bit ironic that those who served in the military and then moved into first-responder roles are often the ones who don't get the day off to celebrate their own service. Most of these contracts include "holiday pay" (time-and-a-half), but the physical day off is a luxury.
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What you should do if you're unsure
If you are trying to figure out your schedule, don't guess.
- Check your employee handbook. Don't rely on what happened last year. Companies change their "floating holiday" policies all the time.
- Call the local government office. If you need to renew your tabs or get a building permit, call the county clerk on November 10th. Most county offices follow the federal schedule, but some smaller municipalities do not.
- Verify school schedules. Don't assume your kid is off just because the mail isn't running. Many private schools and even some public districts use Veterans Day as a "snow day makeup" or a professional development day for teachers.
- Look for the "Observed" date. If November 11th is a Sunday, the federal holiday is Monday, Nov 12th. If you work for the government, that’s your day.
Veterans Day is a bit of a patchwork quilt in the American calendar. It’s not a total blackout of commerce, but it’s more than just a regular workday. For those who do have the day off, it’s a great time to attend a ceremony or simply reflect on the sacrifices made by the roughly 16 million living veterans in the U.S. today.
If you're a veteran yourself, your best bet is to carry a digital copy of your DD-214 or have a "Veteran" designation on your driver's license. Even if you don't get the day off work, you can usually snag a free coffee or a discounted meal on your lunch break. Just be prepared for the crowds.
Actionable Steps for Veterans Day:
- Verify your trash pickup: Many waste management companies move their schedule back by one day during holiday weeks.
- Check your bank's app: Most will post a banner a week in advance if they plan to close physical branches.
- Support local: If you are off work, consider visiting a veteran-owned business. It’s a more tangible way to show support than a social media post.
- Plan for traffic: In cities with major parades (like New York City or Albany), street closures can turn a 10-minute commute into an hour-long nightmare.