06/17/2026
📌 Federal Holidays & Nanny Employment: What’s the Difference Between Law and Industry Standards?
One of the most common questions I get from both families and nannies is:
“Are household employers required to pay federal holidays?”
The answer is: Not necessarily.
Household employees are not federal employees, and New York State does not require private household employers to provide paid federal holidays.
However, in the professional nanny industry, paid holidays have become a customary benefit and are often included as part of a competitive compensation package.
That’s why I always recommend having a written work agreement that clearly outlines:
✔ Which holidays are paid
✔ What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend
✔ What happens if the nanny is asked to work on a holiday
✔ Any premium or holiday pay arrangements
Another important clarification: working on a holiday does not automatically make those hours overtime.
For nannies in New York:
• Live-out nannies earn overtime after 40 hours worked in a workweek
• Live-in nannies earn overtime after 44 hours worked in a workweek
Some families choose to offer time-and-a-half or premium pay for holiday work, but that is typically a negotiated benefit, not a legal requirement.
After 25 years as a nanny and now as a NYS licensed nanny agency owner, I’ve learned that the best employment relationships happen when expectations are clearly discussed before the job begins.
Knowing the difference between what is legally required and what is considered an industry standard helps both families and caregivers make informed decisions.
✨ Clear communication. Fair expectations. Stronger working relationships.
