Juneteenth and Workers’ Rights

For the fifth time in federal history, America will celebrate Juneteenth on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The first Juneteenth celebration took place 159 years ago, a year after enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation from slave owners who kept that information from them for over two years.

Juneteenth commemorates the long path we have taken as a country to overcome violations to human rights like forced labor and ownership of another human being. Though we can look back on the past 160 years and think we have come impossibly far, workers rights are still in jeopardy in our country, and the very meaning of the holiday is under attack in workplaces throughout the United States.

Maintaining diversity in the workplace

As the current administration seeks to wipe out any mention of Black history or diversity in the workplace, it is paramount that workers show their employers that diversity and inclusion do matter. Juneteenth provides many opportunities for workers to show their support for workplace initiatives that will teach all employees about the importance of diversity in the workplace.

Juneteenth provides an opportunity for workers to learn about how labor history and black history are intertwined, and that the rights workers know today are thanks to the struggles of oppressed communities throughout history. It is a time to celebrate and amplify black voices in the workplace and ensure that workers of every race understand how to include one another, how to advocate for each other’s rights, and how to show up for their under-represented co-workers. Juneteenth isn’t just a day off work – it’s a day to celebrate and take action for workers rights and inclusion not only in the workplace, but in community.

Your rights as an employee on Juneteenth

Juneteenth was officially declared a federal holiday in 2021. However, private businesses are not required to give the day. Many employers choose to close their businesses or provide holiday pay for their employees who must work on Juneteenth as a display of allyship.

If you are a federal employee or public worker, you are legally obligated to take a paid day off.

In Washington, Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday. This means that state agencies and courts are also closed, and employees are to take a paid day off.

If you are the employee of a private company, your employer is not required to provide Juneteenth as a paid holiday. Additionally, it is up to your employer’s discretion whether they will provide overtime or holiday pay for their employees who must work on Juneteenth.

How you can celebrate Juneteenth

Whether or not you work on Juneteenth, you can still celebrate the holiday. Here are some ideas you can take without to the workplace and further outside it:

At work

• Highlight Black history, especially Black Labor history, throughout your day
• Listen to the perspectives of Black co-workers
• Encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Encourage leaders to adopt initiatives that consider all individuals in the workplace

Outside of work

• Buy from Black-owned businesses
• Take the time to learn more about the holiday
• Attend community celebrations
• Participate in advocating for workers’ rights
• Research candidates for local government office who support diversity and workers’ rights

No matter where you are on Juneteenth, you can make a commitment to inclusion, diversity, and fighting for workers’ rights.

Discrimination in the workplace

Despite the efforts of many to create an environment of diversity and inclusion, workplace policies and actions on a federal level still have a long way to go. If you are facing harassment or discrimination in the workplace, speak with your HR department and call an Employment and Labor Law attorney. Be sure to document any harassment and inequity. If you are a witness to the harassment or discrimination of a co-worker, take action and stand up for them in the most appropriate way possible to stand up for their rights. Workers’ rights are human rights, and human rights affect us all.