On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, honoring the attested end of slavery in the United States in 1865.
Amid the new legislation and recent wave of discussions about racial injustice, major companies across the country are celebrating the holiday by giving employees paid time off (PTO) or holiday pay.
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More than 460 companies are observing Juneteenth, according to USA Today, including some companies who are participating this year for the first time.
Here are ways some companies are showing support for Juneteenth.
T-Mobile
The mobile communications company made Juneteenth a paid company holiday for the first time this year.
“It is the result of the great feedback from our employees about what T-Mobile can do to effect positive change inside and outside our walls,” Mike Sievert, CEO, told USA Today.
Yelp
This is the first year the review app made Juneteenth a paid holiday. The company said it will observe the holiday on Friday, June 18.
“Myself and other Yelp executives conducted a series of listening sessions to hear from our Black employees and discovered the areas where we can and must do better,” Miriam Warren, Yelp’s chief diversity officer, said in a statement. “Stemming from those conversations, we realized the importance of giving our employees the space to observe Juneteenth as a global paid holiday.”
Home Depot
The company has planned a series of events and celebrations for its associates and will host a virtual event for all associates to come together and talk openly, a spokesperson told USA Today.
Starbucks
The popular coffee chain made Juneteenth a holiday in 2020 and pays hourly employees time-and-a-half. Salaried partners who are required to work will receive a holday as compensation, and support partners will get the day off with regular pay, the company said.
“This was one of the many actions we’ve taken to promote an environment where our partners see and feel real progress,” Dennis Brockman, global chief inclusion and diversity officer at Starbucks, said in a statement.
Lyft
The rideshare company will give employees the day off for the second year in a row.
“We encourage team members to use this day to reflect, participate in civic engagement, or leverage anti-discrimination resources to deepen understanding of the work still needed to support the Black community,” the company said.
Executives at Lyft will also take part in roundtable discussions about Juneteenth, voting, rights, allyship and more throughout the week. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and National Coalition on Black Civic Participation President and CEO Melanie Campbell will be in attendance.
Zillow
Zillow expanded its holiday calendar in 2020 when it added Juneteenth as a paid holiday for all of its employees.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to racial equality, Zillow observes Juneteenth as a paid holiday, and encourages employees to take the day for reflection, volunteerism, education, and activism to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S.,” Kristina Adamski, vice president at Zillow, said in a statement.
Altria
Tobacco company Altria announced in 2020 that it would celebrate Juneteenth as a “Day of Healing,” to further support its Black employees.
“We made Juneteenth a company-paid day off last year and will do so again this year,” Steven Callahan, managing director of communications at Altria, told USA Today. The company will recognize it on Friday, June 18.
Nike
Nike made Juneteenth a paid annual holiday for its employees in both the U.S. and Puerto Rico last year.
“Across our Nike, Converse, and Jordan family, we will close our corporate, retail, manufacturing and distribution operations in observance of Juneteenth to provide educational opportunities that honor Black history and culture,” a Nike spokeswoman told USA Today.
The company’s corporate offices and distribution centers will be closed on Friday, June 18, while Nike and Converse retail stores will be closed on Saturday, June 19.
Mastercard
The financial services company made Juneteenth a “Mastercard Day of Solidarity” for its employees last year and will continue to do the same in 2021.
“We continue to offer employees globally the day for service, learning or reflection,” Will O’Connor, senior vice president of communications at Mastercard, told USA Today.
Juneteenth will be observed on Friday, June 18, and Thursday, June 17, for countries that do not work on Fridays.
Best Buy
Best Buy announced last year that Juneteenth is an official company holiday.
“It’s really important for us to recognize its significance with our employees and offer them an opportunity to celebrate, reflect or give back,” Mark Irvin, chief inclusion, diversity and talent officer at BestBuy said. The company is also providing resources and information on local community-led celebrations, educational resources about Juneteenth and volunteer opportunities.
Target
The global retail giant made Juneteenth an official annual company holiday in 2020.
“In 2021, Target is doing the same by providing team members with the opportunity to observe the day however they prefer, through education, service or celebration,” the company said in a statement.
Employees working hourly will get paid time-and-a-half.
Allstate
The insurance company followed suit by making Juneteenth an annual, paid company holiday in 2020. It’ll give employees “the opportunity to reflect, learn and engage in their communities,” Allstate spokesperson Mallory Vasquez said in an email.
The company will observe the holiday on Friday, June 18.
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