Holidays

Time for you: Our paid holiday schedule for staff

We value our staff’s need to to observe and celebrate important holidays, or simply relax and renew. Indiana University offices (with the exception of those that provide essential services) close for an official winter break and several holidays per year.

  • You must be a staff employee (50% FTE or greater)
  • Each holiday is considered to be eight hours for 100% FTE staff
  • Holiday hours are prorated by FTE for staff employees with less than 100% FTE.
  • Not sure whether (or how) this applies to you? Check IU’s holidays policy.

If you are an eligible employee, you are are excused from work and will receive your regular pay on the following holidays:

2025 Holidays
HolidayDate
New Year’s DayWednesday, Jan. 1
Martin Luther King Jr. DayMonday, Jan. 20
Campus HolidayAccrues on March 1 of each year*
Memorial DayMonday, May 26
JuneteenthThursday, June 19
Independence DayFriday, July 4
Labor DayMonday, Sept. 1
ThanksgivingThursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28
Christmas DayThursday, Dec. 25
Winter BreakFriday, Dec. 26, Monday, Dec. 29, Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 31

Common circumstances

If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the Friday immediately preceding the holiday. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the Monday immediately following the holiday.

*What is the Campus Holiday?

The Campus Holiday is a “floating” holiday that you can schedule individually. This time is available to use every year on or after March 1.

Winter Break

Beginning in 2024, IU offices are expected to close from Dec. 25 through Jan. 1, except where continuous service is required.

You will not be required to use your paid time off (PTO) hours on these days—they will automatically appear on your timesheet or ePTO calendar.

If your office is closed beyond the official winter break

Borrowing vacation time

If your office is closed outside of IU’s paid holiday schedule, but you haven’t accrued enough vacation or or PTO time, you may borrow up to 40 hours.

Begin by contacting your unit payroll specialist for instructions, then:

  • Borrowed time will be charged against your accrued time
  • If you separate from IU before you earn the borrowed time, your final paycheck will be adjusted accordingly.

If your office remains open, you may not borrow against future accruals. With supervisor approval, you may take time off (vacation/PTO) or be absent without pay and without time off accruals.

Contact askHR or the Office of the University Controller at (812) 855-0375 with questions.

Conditions that may differ, according to your status

  • Non-exempt staff may use vacation hours or compensatory time off.
  • Non-exempt PAO & PAU staff may use PTO or compensatory time off, as available.
  • Exempt staff may use PTO.
  • Staff in any of these categories may also choose to take the time off as absent without pay with time off accruals.
  • Non-exempt staff cannot use income protection time.
  • Exempt and non-exempt PAO and PAU staff cannot use PTO sick leave to cover this time.

IU’s Holiday policy

If you have heard about a change in the holiday policy that you don’t see reflected on this page, you can visit the University Policy website, which is always up to date.

View the holiday policy (HR-05-30)