a floating holiday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a floating holiday" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a holiday that an employee can take at their discretion, rather than on a fixed date. Example: "Our company offers a floating holiday each year, allowing employees to choose a day off that suits their personal needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For new employees, her union agreed to eliminate a floating holiday, to reduce the number of vacation days and sick days, and to accept a less generous nighttime differential.

The New York Times

Consider a floating holiday.

Forbes

City of Oakland Workers: The City has agreed that workers may use a day of comp time, vacation time, a floating holiday or leave without pay in order to participate.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Today Google has added the first sea vessel to Street View's roster of panoramically surveilled and stitched places, with a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, called Allure of the Seas, getting 20,000 close-ups so that armchair surfers can take a virtual tour of the floating holiday camp.

TechCrunch

Fathers and adoptive parents can use available paid time off, including floating holidays, vacation, and, in California, a portion of sick pay.

The New York Times

"Because many people have floating holidays, they often take that day off," she said.

The New York Times

Eternally exhausted, both parents are borderline neglectful, "floating" holidays and flaking on carpools and skimping on therapy for Brick.

The New Yorker

To motor cruisers – which had at one point made them the largest dispenser of floating holidays in the world – were eventually added holiday cottages and parks.

The Guardian

In the letter, Kent S. Ray, the county's director of labor relations, informed unions that the county was contemplating several cost-savings steps in addition to asking for the unpaid days, including the elimination of floating holidays, personal days, paid lunch hours and breaks.

The New York Times

The Family Medical Leave Act guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually, and workers have been free to use vacation, sick time or floating holidays to cover the time.

Los Angeles Times

Richard Powell takes a trip around Croatia's Kvarner Gulf archipelago, on a cycling holiday with a twist aboard a floating hotel..

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employee benefits, clearly define what "a floating holiday" entails. Specify any restrictions or procedures for requesting such days off.

Common error

Avoid using "a floating holiday" interchangeably with standard public holidays. Clarify that it's an additional, flexible day off, not a replacement for fixed national or religious holidays.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a floating holiday" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a type of employee benefit, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a floating holiday" is a noun phrase referring to a flexible day off that employees can choose, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and primarily found in News & Media contexts. While not very frequent, it's a clear and concise way to describe this type of employee benefit. When using the phrase, ensure clarity to avoid confusion with standard public holidays.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flexible vacation day

Emphasizes the flexibility in choosing the day for vacation.

floating leave day

Replaces 'holiday' with 'leave', but retains the flexibility concept.

personal day off

Highlights that the day off is for personal use and choice.

discretionary day off

Focuses on the employee's discretion in selecting the day.

elective holiday

Highlights that the employee elects which day to take.

alternative holiday

Suggests an alternative to standard, fixed holidays.

self-scheduled holiday

Emphasizes that the employee schedules the holiday themselves.

movable holiday

Indicates the holiday can be moved to a different date.

pick-your-day holiday

Informal term emphasizing the choice of day for the holiday.

flexible time off

Broader term encompassing various forms of flexible leave.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "a floating holiday"?

A "floating holiday" refers to a paid day off that an employee can choose to take on any day of the year, rather than being fixed to a specific date like a public holiday.

How do companies usually handle requests for "a floating holiday"?

Companies typically require employees to request "a floating holiday" in advance, similar to vacation time, to ensure adequate staffing and coverage.

What are some alternative terms for "a floating holiday"?

You can use alternatives like "flexible vacation day", "personal day off", or "discretionary day off" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "a floating holiday" the same as a public holiday?

No, "a floating holiday" is different from a public holiday. Public holidays are fixed days recognized by law, while "a floating holiday" is an additional day off that employees can choose.