Duke provides paid holidays as part of its comprehensive benefits package to support staff in their effort to balance work and family responsibilities. University staff who are eligible for holidays will receive 14 paid holidays per year, including designated holidays and discretionary holidays, to staff scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week. For more information regarding compensation and scheduling of holidays, please see the HR Policy Manual: Holidays.

Duke University provides 14 paid holidays to staff scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week. These holidays include both designated and discretionary holidays. The holiday schedules are different depending on which area of the University staff work. Please see the schedule that applies to you. Duke University Health System, which offers a Paid Time Off policy, recognizes the designated holiday schedule listed below for the purposes of holiday premium payment only.

Holidays for Campus Staff

HolidayDay of the WeekDate
New Year's HolidayMondayJanuary 1, 2024
Martin Luther King Jr. HolidayMondayJanuary 15, 2024
Memorial DayMondayMay 27, 2024
JuneteenthWednesdayJune 19, 2024
Independence DayThursdayJuly 4, 2024
Labor DayMondaySeptember 2, 2024
Thanksgiving DayThursdayNovember 28, 2024
Friday After ThanksgivingFridayNovember 29, 2024
Christmas EveTuesdayDecember 24, 2024
Christmas DayWednesdayDecember 25, 2024
New Year's EveTuesdayDecember 31, 2024

The days listed above will be recognized as designated holidays. In addition, university staff who are eligible for holiday benefits and on the active payroll on the first day of the calendar months listed below will earn a discretionary holiday in each of these months:

  • February
  • March
  • April

Holidays for Staff in the School of Medicine and School of Nursing

(School of Medicine, School of Nursing)

HolidayDay of the WeekDate
New Year's HolidayMondayJanuary 1, 2024
Martin Luther King Jr. HolidayMondayJanuary 15, 2024
Memorial DayMondayMay 27, 2024
JuneteenthWednesdayJune 19, 2024
Independence DayThursdayJuly 4, 2024
Labor DayMondaySeptember 2, 2024
Thanksgiving DayThursdayNovember 28, 2024
Christmas DayWednesdayDecember 25, 2024

The days listed above will be recognized as designated holidays. In addition, university staff in academic medical and research units who are eligible for holiday benefits and on the active payroll on the first day of the calendar months listed below will earn a discretionary holiday in each of these months:

  • February
  • March
  • April
  • June
  • August
  • October

Holidays for Health System Staff

Duke University Health System staff must schedule time off in accordance with the Paid Time Off policy. The Health System will recognize the designated holiday schedule listed below for the purposes of holiday premium payment only.

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day