Plan who works each holiday, rotate fairly year to year and confirm coverage early.
Holiday scheduling causes more conflict than almost any other shift. A transparent rotation and early planning reduce it.
Holiday premium pay is a matter of policy for most private employers, though some states and contracts have rules. Apply your policy consistently.
11 items. Keep it on a tablet, or print a copy for the clipboard.
A grocery store needs 8 people on Thanksgiving and 6 on New Year’s Day. Five volunteer; the rest come from the rotation list, starting with people who did not work a major holiday last year.
Because holiday pay and holiday assignments are set by employer policy rather than federal law, a written, consistently applied rule is what keeps decisions defensible. Naming backups ahead of time also protects the reduced-hours shift when someone calls out.
| Store and holiday | Pine Valley Grocery, Denver, Christmas Eve |
|---|---|
| Hours open | 7 am to 6 pm, closing early |
| People needed | 10 across two shifts |
| Volunteers | 4: Hana, Eli, Raj, Tess |
| From rotation | 6, starting with those off last Christmas Eve |
| Backups | Omar and Ivy |
| Premium pay | 1.5x per store policy |
The rotation starts with people who were off on the same holiday last year, so the list is fair within each holiday, not just across the season.
Usually a policy choice; check state law and contracts.
Use a written rotation.
Consider accommodation requests.
As early as possible.
Pick a date well ahead of the season, such as October 15 for November and December, and announce the assignment rule with it. Requests after the deadline go on a waiting list in order received. Publishing the deadline and rule together cuts the claims of favoritism.
No federal law requires private employers to pay extra for holidays or to give paid holidays at all, so it depends on your policy. Some employers give part-timers prorated holiday pay or the same premium rate when they work. Write the rule on the confirmation section so nobody is surprised on payday.
More for the same job
Once the holiday coverage schedule is in place, the next question is usually about shifts and hours. Book a demo to see how EZTime handles scheduling and time tracking.