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
| 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 |
Printable PDF Holiday Schedules
- Fiscal year 2023-24 holiday schedule
- Calendar year 2024 holiday schedule
- Fiscal year 2024-25 holiday schedule
- Fiscal year 2022-23 holiday schedule
- Calendar year 2023 holiday schedule
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 2023?
A: The governor has designated and granted the day after Thanksgiving as a governor’s holiday.
Legal Holiday Observed Every Year Additional Day Granted for 2023 Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, Nov. 23 Friday after Thanksgiving Day - Nov. 24 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 Nov. 24, 2023, if I started working in November?
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 Nov. 24, 2023?
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 and Critical Employees
Q: I am an essential employee and am scheduled to work on Nov. 24, 2023. 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 Friday after Thanksgiving 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 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.
- 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 and are not out on short-term disability receive the eight (8) hours (prorated for part-time employees) of administrative leave.
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.
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.
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 1-5 (1-60 months) |
8 | 192 |
| Years 6-10 (61-120 months) |
10 | 240 |
| Years 11-15 (121-180 months) |
12 | 288 |
| Year 16 or greater (181 or more months) |
14 | 336 |
| 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.
Public Health Emergency & Public Health Emergency Leave
Per Executive Order D2023-001, Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) expansion for flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory illnesses ended on Jan. 8, 2023.
While the expanded conditions are no longer covered, PHEL is still in effect for COVID-19 given that the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) was extended on Jan. 11, 2023. The 80-hour PHEL will continue until four weeks after all applicable PHE declarations end or are suspended. The last day for PHEL is June 8, 2023.
If you have any questions, please contact your agency human resources office.
New State Holiday: Juneteenth
With the signing of SB22-139 on May 2, 2022, Gov. Polis created the 11th legal State holiday, Juneteenth, on June 19.
The holiday is recognized like most day-specific holidays, either on the day of, or on the preceding Friday or the following Monday if the date falls on a weekend.
This holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and declare that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were now free.
Despite the Emancipation Proclamation being issued on Jan. 1, 1863, many enslavers continued to hold enslaved people captive.
For more information, please contact your department's human resources or payroll office.