How Many Days of Paid Vacation Are Mandated by Law in the United States?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re an employee in the United States, you may be wondering how many days of paid vacation you are entitled to by law. While there is no federal law mandating paid vacation time, several states have enacted their own legislation to provide employees with this benefit.

State Laws

Currently, there are 11 states and the District of Columbia that require employers to provide paid vacation time to their employees. These states include:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • Arizona (effective July 1, 2021)
  • Maine (effective January 1, 2021)

Vacation Time Accrual and Usage Policies

While the number of mandated paid vacation days varies by state, most laws require that employees accrue a certain amount of time based on the number of hours worked. For example, in California, employees accrue one hour of paid vacation for every thirty hours worked.

Employers are also allowed to create their own policies regarding how much vacation time can be used at once and when it can be used. They may also have a “use-it-or-lose-it” policy where any unused vacation time does not roll over into the next year.

Federal Law on Vacation Time

While there is no federal law requiring employers to provide paid vacation time, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does require that any non-exempt employee who works over forty hours in a week must be compensated with overtime pay. This means that if an employee takes vacation time and works less than forty hours in a week, they will not be eligible for overtime pay.

Conclusion

In summary, the number of paid vacation days mandated by law varies by state in the United States. It is important for employees to understand their state’s laws and their employer’s vacation time policies to ensure they are receiving the benefits they are entitled to.