Rules To Avoid Bursting Your Floating Holiday Bubble

Seyfarth Synopsis: Some California employers offer floating holidays for employees to use for events like the upcoming St. Patrick's Day holiday. Floating holidays, while offering additional unrestricted days off that promote employee satisfaction and work-life balance, can also bring a sinking feeling to employers who learn, too late, of their possible ballast.

Many California businesses provide 11 paid holidays to employees. In addition, some employers provide floating holidays, which bob along on the sea of workdays until an employee grabs one to serve as a personal life preserver. All good, right? Not necessarily. Granting floating holidays can raise questions that, if not answered correctly, can lead to unexpected liability despite the good intent.