The MDS Dental Practice and Benefits Committee recommends that you annually review and distribute your practice's holiday schedule to your employees as some holidays may fall on days that the office is closed. This best practice will help to clarify in advance those holidays that will be observed. You should also clearly communicate to your staff if these are paid holidays and if part-time employees are eligible to receive holiday pay. 
 
Massachusetts is one of the few states that requires private employers to give employees holiday leave. Per the Massachusetts Blue Laws, private non-retail businesses are required to observe the following holidays:
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Memorial Day 
• Independence Day

Note: Employers may choose to observe more holidays at their discretion.

The choice to pay for holidays is up to the employer, but keeping and retaining staff is critical to the success of your practice so you may want to opt to offer paid holidays to maintain a competitive advantage and limit staff turnover.