Juneteenth is here... tomorrow!

Juneteenth, which ordinarily will be observed on June 19th each year, is being observed tomorrow since the 19th is on Saturday. Most federal employees will have the day off Click here for the Office of Personnel Management’s tweet announcing the holiday: https://twitter.com/USOPM/status/1405537166684352518?s=20. Federal contractors maybe wondering how to respond and remain compliant with the requirements of the Service Contract Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Previously, we blogged about the impact of the National Day of Mourning that was declared in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. While that occasion is so different from the celebration of freedom that will be observed tomorrow, the two share the trait of being unexpected federal holidays. We commend our earlier blog post for consideration by federal contractors who may be puzzling over what to do. See Day of Mourning Closure — What to do?

For those who may not be familiar with the history of Juneteenth observances, June 19th is the date in 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation was formally brought into effect in Texas. As celebrations have evolved, Juneteenth emerged as a formal holiday in many states in celebration of the emancipation of enslaved persons. In other words, this not a new holiday. However, for the federal government it’s brand new and with fewer than 24 hours notice, we hope our earlier blog post will help.