Us Code § 5546 - Pay for Sunday and holiday work

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 5546 — Pay for Sunday and holiday work, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 5546. Pay for Sunday and holiday work

(a) An employee who performs work during a regularly scheduled 8-hour period of service which is not overtime work as defined by section 5542(a) of this title a part of which is performed on Sunday is entitled to pay for the entire period of service at the rate of his basic pay, plus premium pay at a rate equal to 25 percent of his rate of basic pay. For employees serving outside the United States in areas where Sunday is a routine workday and another day of the week is officially recognized as the day of rest and worship, the Secretary of State may designate the officially recognized day of rest and worship as the day with respect to which the preceding sentence shall apply instead of Sunday.

(b) An employee who performs work on a holiday designated by Federal statute, Executive order, or with respect to an employee of the government of the District of Columbia, by order of the District of Columbia Council, is entitled to pay at the rate of his basic pay, plus premium pay at a rate equal to the rate of his basic pay, for that holiday work which is not—

(1) in excess of 8 hours; or

(2) overtime work as defined by section 5542(a) of this title.


(c) An employee who is required to perform any work on a designated holiday is entitled to pay for at least 2 hours of holiday work.

(d) An employee who performs overtime work as defined by section 5542(a) of this title on a Sunday or a designated holiday is entitled to pay for that overtime work in accordance with section 5542(a) of this title.

(e) Premium pay under this section is in addition to premium pay which may be due for the same work under section 5545(a) and (b) of this title, providing premium pay for nightwork.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 488; Pub. L. 90–83, §1(29), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 201; Pub. L. 90–623, §1(13), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1312; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. B, title XXIII, §2317(2), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–829.)

Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act
DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes and

Statutes at Large

5 U.S.C. 922. June 30, 1945, ch. 212, §302, 59 Stat. 298.
  May 24, 1946, ch. 270, §11, 60 Stat. 218.
  Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, §207, 68 Stat. 1110.
  July 18, 1958, Pub. L. 85–533, §1, 72 Stat. 377.

In subsections (a) and (b), the word "officer" is omitted as included in "employee".

In subsections (b) and (c), the word "designated" is substituted for "such a" and "such" in former section 922(b) and (c) to identify the holiday as one designated by statute, Executive order, or the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

1967 Act
Section of title 5Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
5546(a) 5 App.: 921a. July 18, 1966, Pub. L. 89–504, §405(b)(1), (c), 80 Stat. 297.

In subsection (a), the words "An employee who performs work . . . is entitled to pay . . . at the rate of his basic pay" are coextensive with and substituted for "Any . . . service . . . performed . . . shall be compensated . . . at the rate of basic compensation of the officer or employee performing such work." The words "section 5542(a) of this title" are substituted for "section 201 of this Act" to reflect the codification of that section in title 5, United States Code. The words "between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday" are coextensive with and substituted for "within the period commencing at midnight Saturday and ending at midnight Sunday".


Editorial Notes

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–277 inserted at end "For employees serving outside the United States in areas where Sunday is a routine workday and another day of the week is officially recognized as the day of rest and worship, the Secretary of State may designate the officially recognized day of rest and worship as the day with respect to which the preceding sentence shall apply instead of Sunday."

1968—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–623, §1(13)(A), substituted "District of Columbia Council" for "Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 90–623, §1(13)(B), substituted "5542(a)" for "5442(a)".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 intended to restate without substantive change the law in effect on Oct. 22, 1968, but amendment of subsec. (d) of this section by section 1(13)(B) of Pub. L. 90–623 effective as of Sept. 6, 1966, for all purposes, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of this title.

Transfer of Functions

District of Columbia Council, as established by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1967, abolished as of noon Jan. 2, 1975, by Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, §711, Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 818, and replaced by Council of District of Columbia, as provided by section 401 of Pub. L. 93–198.

Condition of Performance

Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, §101(h) [title VI, §624], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–480, 2681–518, provided that: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no part of any funds provided by this Act or any other Act beginning in fiscal year 1999 and thereafter shall be available for paying Sunday premium pay to any employee unless such employee actually performed work during the time corresponding to such premium pay."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriations act:

Pub. L. 105–61, title VI, §636, Oct. 10, 1997, 111 Stat. 1316.

About This Section

5 U.S.C. § 5546 is part of Title 5 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 5 U.S.C. § 5546. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 5546

What does United States Code § 5546 cover?

Section 5546 ("Pay for Sunday and holiday work") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 5546?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 5546" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 5546 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Us Code can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.