Last Updated: October 6, 2026 – 6:30 AM

Kroger Employee Holiday Pay and PTO Policy 2026: What Associates Need to Know

Updated: October 6, 2026 · Reviewed by the KrogerFan editorial team · How we fact check

Here’s the first thing to know: Kroger doesn’t have one holiday and time off rulebook that covers everybody. What you get depends on your division, whether your store is under a union contract, the year you were hired, and whether you work full time or part time. Two people in the same store can be treated differently.

To get past the guessing, we read two real Kroger union contract documents plus the federal leave rules. Below is what they say, where they differ, and what to ask about your own situation. It’s a guide, not your contract, so check your own paperwork before you plan around anything.

The two contracts we looked at

Savannah, Georgia: the UFCW Local 1996 agreement with Kroger, dated March 2021 to March 2025. That contract has since run out, so the current one may have changed.

Roanoke, Virginia: the UFCW Local 400 summary of Kroger’s June 2025 offer. It’s a summary of the company’s offer, so check the final agreement for the exact wording.

These are two examples from two unions. Other divisions will have their own numbers. Not every Kroger store is union either.

Paid holidays: which ones you get

It isn’t “all the holidays.” In Savannah, people hired before October 30, 2005 get five holidays: New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. People hired on or after that date get three basic holidays (Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas) plus two floating holidays, once they pass their first anniversary. Memorial Day isn’t on that list.

Roanoke does it differently. Employees hired after April 1, 1995 get four personal holidays in place of New Year’s, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Each one is paid at four hours, and you need twelve straight months on the job first. Full time employees get one more personal holiday after five years and another after ten.

In the Savannah contract, a full time employee also has to work the scheduled day before and the scheduled day after the holiday to get the holiday pay, unless the absence is for proven illness or excused by the company. Part time pay is based on average hours.

Pay for working a holiday

A lot of people assume Kroger pays time and a half on holidays. In these contracts, that’s mostly for older hires:

Hired before July 14, 1985: time and a half for Sunday and holiday work.

Hired July 14, 1985 through April 11, 1989: a bonus of $0.50 an hour (part time) or $1.00 an hour (full time).

Hired after April 11, 1989: straight time.

So under that contract, someone hired recently works a holiday at their normal rate. Your own contract could be better or worse, so look it up. The same Savannah contract says no work is performed on Christmas Day, and work after 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve is paid at double time. Holiday and Sunday work is offered to volunteers first, then assigned by seniority, with the least senior going first. Roanoke has a similar volunteer rule.

If you’re not in a union, holiday pay is set by company policy. Ask your store leader or HR. Wondering which days stores are open? See the Kroger store holiday schedule.

Vacation time

This is the Savannah schedule for people hired after April 11, 1989:

Years of service Vacation

1 year 1 week

4 years 2 weeks

10 years 3 weeks

17 years 4 weeks

Older hires in that contract do a bit better: 3 weeks at 7 years and 5 weeks at 20. Part time vacation is worked out from the hours you put in during the year, divided by 52. Don’t treat this table as a promise for every Kroger store. It’s one contract, and others use different steps.

Sick time, PTO and other leave

Nothing we read describes one nationwide PTO system. Some divisions and contracts keep vacation, sick and personal days separate. Others may use a combined bank. Your division handbook or contract tells you which applies to you.

Two examples from the Savannah contract: up to three paid days off after a death in the immediate family (you have to attend the funeral, and pay is capped at your basic weekly wage), and a leave of absence of up to 30 days for personal reasons after one year of continuous service.

What happens to unused vacation when you leave, or whether it rolls over, depends on your contract and your state’s wage laws. Some states treat earned vacation as wages. There’s a state by state overview from Paycor if you want to see where yours lands.

Federal leave protections

The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave in a 12 month period for things like a serious health condition, a new child, or caring for a close family member. To be eligible you generally need 12 months with the employer, at least 1,250 hours worked in the past year, and a worksite with 50 or more employees within 75 miles. See the Department of Labor’s FMLA page and fact sheet #28.

If you serve in the military reserves or National Guard, USERRA protects your right to get your job back after service. The DoL’s USERRA guide explains it.

How to ask for time off

Most associates put in time off requests through the scheduling system. Whether you get it usually depends on seniority, staffing and how busy the store is, and union stores often rank vacation picks by seniority. Ask early, especially around November and December. Our MyTime guide covers where to request it.

Where to check your own rules

Your union contract, if you have one. Local union websites often post them, and your steward can point you to the right article.

Your division’s associate handbook.

Your HR portal or store leadership.

Your state labor department, for anything involving state law.

For more on pay and benefits, see our benefits overview.

Sources

UFCW Local 1996 and Kroger, Savannah contract (2021 to 2025)

UFCW Local 400, Kroger Roanoke offer summary (June 2025)

U.S. Department of Labor, FMLA and fact sheet #28

U.S. Department of Labor, USERRA guide

Paycor, PTO payout laws by state

This site is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Kroger or any union. It isn’t legal advice.

Years of service	Vacation
1 year	1 week
4 years	2 weeks
10 years	3 weeks
17 years	4 weeks

FAQs About Kroger Employee Holiday Policy

Does Kroger offer paid holidays?
Most eligible associates get some paid holidays, but which ones depends on your contract and when you were hired. In the Savannah contract it’s five holidays for older hires, and three plus two floating holidays for people hired in 2005 or later. Roanoke gives four personal holidays to people hired after April 1, 1995.
Who qualifies for holiday pay?
It usually depends on full time or part time status, how long you’ve worked there, and your contract. Some contracts need twelve months on the job first, and full time associates may have to work the scheduled days before and after the holiday.
Does Kroger pay time and a half on holidays?
Not automatically. In the Savannah contract only people hired before July 14, 1985 get time and a half, people hired up to April 11, 1989 get a small hourly bonus, and everyone hired after that is paid straight time. Check your own contract or ask HR.
How much vacation do Kroger employees get?
It depends on the contract. In the Savannah example, people hired after April 11, 1989 get 1 week after 1 year, 2 weeks after 4 years, 3 weeks after 10 years and 4 weeks after 17 years.
Is Kroger closed on Christmas Day?
Most stores are, and the Savannah contract says no work is performed on Christmas Day. Hours can vary by store, so see our holiday schedule page for the latest.
Can I take FMLA leave at Kroger?
If you qualify, yes. You generally need 12 months with the employer, 1,250 hours in the past year, and a worksite with 50 or more employees within 75 miles. It gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave.
How do I ask for time off?
Most associates request it through the scheduling system. Approval depends on seniority, staffing and how busy the store is, so ask as early as you can, especially in November and December.