Patriots' Day, observed on the third Monday in April, is an official state holiday in Massachusetts. For public sector employees, this means state, county, and municipal offices are closed, and it is a paid day off. However, state law does not mandate that private-sector employers provide paid time off for this holiday. Therefore, whether it is a paid holiday for an employee of a private company depends entirely on the employer's specific policies.
The status of the holiday is defined in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 4, Section 7, which lists all legal holidays within the Commonwealth. This statute legally requires the closure of public offices and schools. For private businesses, compensation and holiday observance are governed by company policy and employment agreements. While some Massachusetts "Blue Laws" (M.G.L. Chapter 136) regulate which types of businesses may operate on certain holidays and may require premium pay for employees who work, they do not compel an employer to pay an employee for a day not worked.
In practical terms, an employee of a state or local government entity in Massachusetts can expect to have Patriots' Day as a paid holiday. An employee of a private business must consult their employee handbook or employment contract to determine if their company observes the day as a paid holiday. Many private employers in the state do choose to offer it as a paid benefit, but it remains a discretionary decision rather than a legal obligation.
