As this, the last “teen” year of our century comes to a close, Thanksgiving provides a time for employers to reflect on their misspent youth and look with hope toward a more mature future. As you order your oversized turkey and browse Pinterest for fall-themed tablescapes, don’t forget that your employees may also require some extra attention this time of year. With this goal in mind, I’ve compiled a list of frequently asked labor law questions and answers that may pop up as turkey day approaches.

  • Can employees be required to work on Thanksgiving? 

Although Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, there is no specific labor law preventing companies from staying open for business and requiring employees to work. Over the last five years, many companies (and particularly retailers) began to roll out plans to increase their sales by opening early for Black Friday. Fortunately, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, the vast majority of organizations close for Thanksgiving. Indeed many retailers, including Costco, Home Depot, Nordstrom and Sam’s Club, are keeping their doors closed this Thanksgiving to allow their workers to spend the holiday with family.

  • Are employees entitled to overtime pay for working on Thanksgiving or Black Friday?