Press Release The Department of Labor Standards must approve all permits to allow retail stores and businesses to perform work and to be open on certain holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Massachusetts — Notice that DLS must approve all permits to allow retail stores and businesses to perform work and to be open on certain holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas

To:  All Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, The Police Commissioner of the City of Boston

From: Michael Flanagan, Director Department of Labor Standards

Date: September 26, 2022

Re: Permits for Holiday Openings

Thanksgiving Day-November 24, 2022 and Christmas Day-December 25, 2022

The Department of Labor Standards must approve all local permits to allow retail stores and businesses to perform work and to be open on certain holidays, including Thanksgiving, November 24, 2022, and Christmas Day, December 25, 2022. Permits must be approved by the Department of Labor Standards on a uniform basis statewide. See Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 136, §15.

Please be advised that the Department of Labor Standards will not issue statewide approval for permits for businesses to open on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day 2022.

For further information, please view our Blue Laws Overview on our website at https://www.mass.gov/guides/massachusetts-blue-laws-and-working-on-sundays-and-holidays or contact the Department of Labor Standards at (617) 626-6952.

Michael Flanagan,
Director
Department of Labor Standards

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