Some years ago they passed a Monday holiday law, switching the date of a number of national holidays so they would always be on a Monday, creating a three day weekend. That includes Martin Luther King Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day. Veteran's Day, Independence Day, Christmas, and New Years remain observed on their actual day. Thanksgiving and Labor Day were already on day of week.
Roughly speaking, workers have seen a gradual cutback in the number of holidays they get a day off from work. There were always the big
5--NY, Memorial, Independence, Labor, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, that everyone got off (except critical personnel). Over time, some employers began to give off Washington's birthday, King's birthday and Veteran's Day in addition. More generous employers threw in Columbus Day and Good Friday.Historically, if a major holiday fell on the weekend, the nearest Monday or Friday would be given off.
Nowadays employers seem a lot tighter and grant only the major day off. Many retailers are open on holidays, even Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, and expect people to work.
The phone company would grant weekend rate reductions on certain major holidays. However, when a day was celebrated on an alternate day (such as everything being closed on Monday July 5 in celebration of Independence Day instead of on Sunday 7/4), the phone company did not give discounts on the alternate day, weekday rates were charged which could be steep.
Today, I've discovered cell phone companies are very tricky when it comes to giving weekend rates during holidays. My own plan is supposed to do that, but I've learned that in practice they don't and I must call and complain if I make a day call on a major holiday (because my day rate is very steep I have to be watch). I notice today's ads have no asterisk on weekends denoting what holidays constitute weekend rates, if any.