2025 Holidays - Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- Monday Replacement: In the Cayman Islands, if a public holiday date falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is usually observed as the public holiday.

- Employer compliance: Both public and private sector employers must treat this “replacement Monday” as the holiday. Employees required to work on that day are generally entitled to statutory holiday pay or time off in lieu, as per local labor regulations.

- Common practice: Most government offices, banks, and many businesses close on the Monday that replaces a Sunday holiday.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- Shift to the next weekday: Often, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the public holiday is moved to the following Monday (unless another rule or decree states otherwise).

- Official announcements: The government publishes the official holiday calendar each year, specifying how Saturday holidays are handled. In most cases, they are shifted to Monday as well.

- Overtime or off-in-lieu: Employees who must work on the Saturday holiday (if it is still observed that day by the employer) are entitled to the usual holiday pay provisions under Cayman Islands labor laws.

3. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- No automatic bridging: There is no statutory requirement to grant a “bridge” day off if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday.

- Government discretion: Occasionally, the government might make a special announcement to create a long weekend around significant events, but this is not routine.

- Employer policies: Some employers may offer additional time off to create a long weekend, but it is strictly at the employer’s discretion.

4. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- Fixed Monday holidays: Certain holidays (e.g., National Heroes Day) are already set to fall on a Monday, so no weekend shift is needed.

- Christmas and Boxing Day: If Christmas Day (25 December) or Boxing Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday(s) typically shift to the following weekday(s). The government’s annual schedule specifies the exact dates.

- Additional events: From time to time, the Cayman Islands Government may declare extra one-off holidays (e.g., royal events or special commemorations). Observance rules (including weekend shifts) are announced at that time.

5. Additional Notes

- Legal framework: Public holidays and observance rules in the Cayman Islands are governed by the Public Holidays Law and any associated regulations or amendments.

- Annual publication: The official public holiday dates, including details of shifts from weekend dates, are typically gazetted and posted on the government’s official website well in advance.

- Compensation: Employees required to work on a public holiday (including a Monday that replaces a Saturday or Sunday holiday) are entitled to at least double pay or time off in lieu, as outlined in local labor laws or their employment contracts.

- Employer flexibility: Employers can offer more generous benefits than the legal minimum, such as extra days off or bridging days, but these go beyond statutory requirements.