Last Updated on May 11, 2022 by Fair Punishment Team

Who doesn’t love going on vacation? Whether you’ve been planning a huge family vacation of a lifetime or you simply want to take a week off to yourself to enjoy a little TLC and self-care (or even just to catch up on some much-needed sleep), then you might currently be wondering about whether or not you’re going to be entitled to get paid for the duration of the time that you spend off from work.

If you’re currently in this boat, then rest assured that you’re not the only one. Lots of people across America that are employed on a part-time basis often find themselves confused on whether or not they’re going to be entitled to paid time off, and the reason for most of this confusion mostly comes down to the simple mere fact that in the USA, workers aren’t actually entirely to paid time off at all.

Needless to say, while this might be the case of the law, the truth is that the majority of employers across the states will offer their employees paid time off, but what about if you’re a part-time employee? This is where we come in to lend you a helping hand. Below, we are going to be talking you through everything that you need to know when it comes to understanding whether or not you’ll be entitled to paid leave. So, whenever you’re ready – let’s jump right in.

Do Part-Time Employees Get Paid Holidays?

Believe it or not, at the time of writing this, there aren’t currently any set laws in place that require US employers to legally pay their employees for any time off that they decide to take throughout the year – whether for a vacation, an important medical appointment or simply just to take a bones day.

However, even though this might very well be the case, it’s important to note that, for the most part, most employers across the country will make sure that they offer their employees paid time off throughout the year – and that goes for both full time and part-time employees.

Even though companies and employers are pretty much free to create their own paid time off policies via their own discretion, it is considered best practice across the board to offer employees a set amount of fully paid time off each year for employees to use.

Across the pond in the United Kingdom, it is common for employees to be entitled to around 20-25 paid holidays per year, while in the states – that figure is usually somewhere around 10-12. However, as we have already mentioned above, the amount of paid time off that an American employer offers is usually down to them, so you might currently be entitled to more or less.

If you’re currently unsure, we strongly urge you to check out your contract that you will have signed upon accepting the part-time position, as this will be filled with all of the necessary information regarding how much paid time off you are entitled to each year.

How Much Do Part-Time Employees Get Paid For Holidays?

As a side note, it is also worth noting that the amount of money that you get paid for your time off might differ slightly from how much a full-time employee might get, and it’s difficult to give you an accurate answer as to whether or not this could potentially affect you – as employees across the states are generally allowed to set their own paid leave rates at their own discretion.

For this reason, if you’re currently a part-time employee that’s looking to enjoy some much-needed and well-deserved time off, then we recommend that you take a good look through your contract to make sure that you’re well aware of what your employer’s policy is regarding paid leave, or alternatively go to your employer directly for guidance on what you can expect to be entitled to for the duration of your time off.

How Much Time Can A Part-Time Employee Take Off Fully Paid?

Alongside being given a set amount of days each year that you will be able to use to take fully paid time off, it is also worth noting that you might also be able to accrue a certain amount of extra days each year.

You can go about accruing extra paid time off in a variety of ways, although the most common type that is typically accepted by employers is working overtime, or bouncing unused holiday from the previous working year over to the next. In some instances, employers might even “gift” employees additional paid time off days for every year worked, although this isn’t always the case.

On the other hand, in some instances, it is not uncommon for employers to withhold paid holiday days for a period of 12 months or more before allowing employees to take paid time off -regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time.

Conclusion

To reiterate all of the above, even though it is not deemed necessary by law to offer employees paid time off in the USA (currently, that is) it is deemed as best practice and customary to offer all employees a certain amount of paid time off each year to use as they please, and the amount of set time off offered will often vary depending on the company and employer – but the most common amount of paid time off given to employees in America is usually around 10 days per year.

Of course, if you’re a little unsure of how much time off you will be entitled to, or even if your company offers paid leave in the first place, we strongly suggest that you talk to a member of your senior management for clarity, as well as to ask any additional questions you may have specific to you and your personal circumstances.

On the other hand, if you do not feel comfortable talking to a member of management, then you could always book a meeting with HR to discuss the policy surrounding paid time off as a part-time employee.