The State of Colorado currently offers employees a comprehensive leave program that includes, but is not limited to annual, sick, holiday, family medical, short-term disability and military leave. Employees earn annual and sick leave at varying accrual rates, based on years of service. Full-time employees begin earning annual leave at an accrual rate of 8 hours per month and sick leave at 6.66 hours per month. Leave for a part-time employee is earned on a pro-rated basis.
Please note that institutions of higher education may have alternate holidays.
Holiday Schedules
- Fiscal Year 2023-24
Fiscal Year 2023-24 Date Holiday Monday, July 3, 2023 Governor's Holiday Tuesday, July 4, 2023 Independence Day Monday, September 4, 2023 Labor Day Monday, October 2, 2023 Frances Xavier Cabrini Day Friday, November 10, 2023 Veterans Day Thursday, November 23, 2023 Thanksgiving Day Monday, December 25, 2023 Christmas Day Monday, January 1, 2024 New Year's Day Monday, January 15, 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, February 19, 2024 President's Day Monday, May 27, 2024 Memorial Day Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Juneteenth - Fiscal Year 2024-25
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Date Holiday Thursday, July 4, 2024 Independence Day Friday, July 5, 2024 Governor's Holiday Monday, September 2, 2024 Labor Day Monday, October 7, 2024 Frances Xavier Cabrini Day Monday, November 11, 2024 Veterans Day Thursday, November 28, 2024 Thanksgiving Day Wednesday, December 25, 2024 Christmas Day Wednesday, January 1, 2025 New Year's Day Monday, January 20, 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, February 17, 2025 President's Day Monday, May 26, 2025 Memorial Day Thursday, June 19, 2025 Juneteenth
Printable PDF Holiday Schedules
- Calendar year 2024 holiday schedule
- Fiscal year 2023-24 holiday schedule
- Fiscal year 2024-25 holiday schedule
Google Calendar for State Holidays
- Individuals on the Google Platform can now subscribe to the Colorado State Holidays Calendar - developed by the OIT Google Team
Governor's Holiday FAQ
These frequently asked questions have been developed to support State employees in understanding the administrative leave day granted by the Governor, known as a Governor’s Holiday.
- Governor's Holiday
Q: What is the Governor’s Holiday?
A: It is administrative leave the Governor grants to State employees during the holidays. The intent is to reward all permanent, full-time and part-time State employees with time off in the spirit of a holiday(s) and to show appreciation for State service.
Q: What day off is the Governor granting for 2024?
A: The Governor has designated and granted the day after Independence Day as a Governor’s Holiday.
Legal Holiday Observed Every Year Additional Day Granted for 2024 Independence Day - July 4 Day after Independence Day - July 5 Q: Why is the governor’s holiday granted in the form of administrative leave?
A: Pursuant to C.R.S. 24-11-101.(1), eleven legal holidays (including Juneteenth) are observed and "...any day appointed or recommended by the governor of this state or the president of the United States as a day of fasting or prayer or thanksgiving, are hereby declared to be legal holidays..."
Given that the aforementioned day off declared by the governor is not a holiday as defined by statute, administrative leave is granted pursuant to rule because an appointing authority can release employees from their official duties for the good of the State and recognize employees for their special accomplishments.- Calculation of Administrative Leave
Q: How should I request the governor’s holiday in our agency’s manual or automated time and leave tracking systems?
A: The governor’s holiday is administrative leave and should be tracked as administrative leave. Please adhere to the directions provided by your human resources or payroll office.
Q: Do I receive the entire eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave on July 5, 2024, if I started working in July?
A: Employees hired and originally scheduled to work when the administrative leave is observed are granted eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of paid administrative leave.
Q: Does an employee who terminates during the month receive the entire eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave for July 5, 2024?
A: Employees who terminate before the administrative leave day is observed are not granted eight (8) hours of administrative leave. Employees who terminate after the administrative leave day is observed will receive the full eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave.
Q: If I terminate before I can take an alternate day off, is the administrative leave paid out?
A: Administrative leave is not paid out at termination so employees need to take an alternate day off as soon as practicable before the end of the fiscal year.
- Essential & Critical Employees
Q: I am an essential employee and am scheduled to work on a Governor's Holiday. Will I receive an alternate day off to use the eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave?
A: Employees in essential positions who cannot take the Governor's Holiday off will be allowed to use the eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave. The leave must be used by the end of the fiscal year.
Q: I am an essential employee and my schedule does not allow for me to take an alternate day off before the end of the fiscal year. Will I lose the alternate day off?
A: Employees in essential positions should strive to take the alternate day off as soon as practicable as the time will be lost if not taken before the end of the fiscal year.
- Temporary & Term-limited Employees
Q: Does the administrative leave apply to temporary employees?
A: Temporary employees are not eligible for holiday pay, leave or benefits pursuant to statute and do not report to work when offices are closed.
Q: Are term-limited employees eligible for the administrative leave?
A: Term-limited employees do receive the day (eight (8) hours administrative leave) off, as they are considered permanent employees.
- Flexible Work Schedules
Q: How is the administrative leave applied if it falls on my scheduled work day of more than eight (8) hours a day?
A: Employees receive the day (eight (8) hours administrative leave) off, but must either be charged annual leave for the hours normally worked that day over eight (8) hours, work the extra time another day of the same week, or revert to a schedule of eight (8) hours a day for the five (5) days of that week.
Q: How is the administrative leave applied if it falls on my flex day when I am not scheduled to work?
A: Employees must be granted another day (eight (8) hours of administrative leave) off at a time determined by the appointing authority prior to the end of the fiscal year. If the employee works more than eight (8) hours a day, annual leave for the hours normally worked that day over eight (8) hours must be charged, work the extra time another day of the same week, or revert to a schedule of eight (8) hours a day for the five (5) days of the week.
- Interaction with Other Leaves
Q: Do employees with unpaid leave in the month in which the administrative leave day is observed receive the eight (8) hours of administrative leave?
A: Employees who have unpaid leave receive the eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave. Please see additional information below if the employee is receiving disability or FAMLI wage replacement benefits.
Q: If I am suspended and on leave without pay for a period of days that includes the administrative leave, am I paid for the administrative leave day?
A: Employees on unpaid disciplinary suspension do not receive administrative leave. This is consistent with the application of holidays for disciplinary suspensions.
Q: Do employees out on FMLA, State family medical leave or injury leave receive the administrative leave?
A: Yes, the administrative leave is applied on the days the administrative leave is observed. Please see additional information below if the employee is receiving disability or FAMLI wage replacement benefits.
Q: Do employees out receiving short or long-term disability payments receive the administrative leave?
A: No, the employees do not receive the administrative leave because they are paid through the disability benefits.
Q: Do employees on leave receiving FAMLI wage replacement benefits receive the administrative leave?
A: Employees who are receiving FAMLI wage replacement benefits for the full week in which the Governor’s Holiday occurs will be paid through those benefits and do not receive the administrative leave. Employees are responsible for reporting the full week of leave to FAMLI if they are out for the entire week.
Employees who are not on leave for the entire week and were expected to work on the Governor’s Holiday should report leave hours to FAMLI for that day. These employees do not receive the administrative leave because they are paid through the FAMLI wage replacement benefit.
Employees who are not on leave for the entire week and who were not expected to work on the Governor’s Holiday, should not report leave hours to FAMLI for that day as they are entitled to the eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave.
Annual Leave Accrual Rates
The following accrual rates apply to Classified employees in the State Personnel System. Leave accruals are prorated for part-time employees.
| Years of Service* | Hours Per Month | Max Accrual |
|---|---|---|
| Years 1-3 (1-36 months) |
8 | 192 |
| Years 4-5 (37-60 months) |
9 | 216 |
| Years 6-10 (61-120 months) |
11 | 264 |
| Years 11-15 (121-180 months) |
13 | 312 |
| Year 16 or greater (181 months or greater) |
16 | 384 |
*Years of service is computed from the 1st calendar day of the month following the hire date; except if the employee began work on the 1st working day of a month, include that month in the count. Employees with prior permanent state service, in or out of the state personnel system, earn leave based on the total whole months of service, excluding temporary assignments.
For more information, please contact your department's human resources or payroll office.