HR calendar: Key dates HR leaders should know for 2025

As an HR leader, proactively managing your department means staying on top of key dates that affect employees, compliance, and overall business operations. From public holidays to awareness days, there’s a lot to track. We’ve put together this comprehensive list of key HR dates to empower you in planning for 2025. 

This year, we’ve included some important HR items and milestones you’ll want to put on your calendar. We understand how these tasks seem to pop up faster and faster every year, and we’re here to support and guide you through them. 

Heads up—February and September are the busiest months, while July and August have fewer HR activities and are the perfect months to take some time off and refuel. 

January

January 1 – New Year’s Day

Start the year off with a fresh outlook. This public holiday marks a good time for HR to reset priorities and refresh company policies.

January 15 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (US)

MLK Day is an important holiday for recognizing social justice and equality. Consider organizing diversity and inclusion initiatives or volunteer opportunities for employees.

January 31 – Deadline for Sending W-2 Forms (US)

Ensure all W-2 forms are sent to employees by this deadline. It’s also a great reminder to audit payroll and tax processes to avoid last-minute complications. Don’t forget to set a reminder to send a comms out on April 1, reminding employees where they can find their tax documents.

February

Recruitment Planning Begins (February 1)

February marks the beginning of many organizations’ recruitment cycles. HR leaders should take this time to review workforce needs, plan recruitment campaigns, and align hiring efforts with company goals for the year.

Black History Month (February 1–28)

This month provides an opportunity for organizations to focus on celebrating Black achievements and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. This is a great time to let your Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) lead the way in promoting activities and awareness in the workplace. 

February 1 – National Freedom Day (US)

This day commemorates the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the US. Although not one of the most celebrated dates, you can use this opportunity to promote equality and fairness in the workplace.

February 17 – Washington’s Birthday (US)

Also known as Presidents’ Day, this holiday honors the legacy of the first US president, George Washington. HR departments can use this time to acknowledge leadership within their organizations and foster discussions about leadership qualities and professional development.

February 29 – Leap Day

We get an extra day every four years! Many employees might not consider this a bonus, so why not do something fun on this day, like launch an internal wellness campaign or team-building activity? 

March

March 7 – Employee Appreciation Day

This day offers HR a great chance to boost morale by recognizing employees’ hard work and contributions. From small gestures to more significant company-wide initiatives, employee appreciation can drive engagement, productivity, and retention. Here’s a great place to get managers involved and ensure they have some tools and the right resources to show their people appreciation.

March 8 – International Women’s Day

Celebrate the achievements of women in your organization and highlight gender diversity in leadership. This day also presents an excellent opportunity to revisit your diversity goals, ensure you are hiring the right women for the right roles, promote female role models, provide mentorship opportunities, and facilitate discussions about systemic barriers women face. 

March 31 – Equal Pay Day (US)

Equal Pay Day symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year. As pay transparency gains more traction amongst workers, it’s a good time to run a report and review salary data to ensure pay equity. Check out the latest surveys on pay scales to ensure you are aligned with the most updated benchmarks.

March 31 – International Transgender Visibility Day

This day brings attention to transgender issues and celebrates transgender people. HR can use this as an opportunity to reinforce inclusivity and educate the workforce on gender diversity and equality.

April

April 1- 30 – Compliance review

Ah, there’s nothing like April showers and internal compliance reviews! Yes, we’re being cheeky, but why not pick a rainy day, block off the next few hours on your calendar, and review company labor laws, safety regulations, and other essential workplace rules? Proactive checks will reduce the risk of fines or penalties. 

April 22 – Earth Day

Engage your employees in sustainability efforts by organizing green initiatives, such as recycling programs or energy-saving challenges. 

April 15 – Tax Reporting (US)

As tax season approaches, HR teams can ensure workloads and overtime are balanced so employees have the time and flexibility to complete their tax filings. Double-check that all the necessary documents, such as W-2s and other tax-related paperwork, are available and easily accessible to employees to meet the filing deadline without unnecessary stress. 

April 30 – National Honesty Day (US)

I’ll be honest here: I didn’t know this was a day 🙂 However, now that it’s official, you can use this day to encourage transparency and openness within the workplace. Consider focusing on employee feedback and fostering a culture of trust.

May

May 20 – International HR Day

We’re skipping chronological order and raising this date to the top of the list! IHRD is your opportunity to highlight HR’s role in shaping company culture, managing talent, and driving business success. Some ideas: share best practices, recognize HR achievements, promote professional development, or have a team party! It’s your day; make it remarkable.

May 1-31 – Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month emphasizes the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace. Throughout May, HR leaders should promote mental health resources, foster open communication around mental health issues, and encourage work-life balance. Consider launching wellness initiatives or providing training for managers to support employees’ mental health better.

May 1 – International Workers’ Day

Also known as Labor Day in many countries, it is a time to recognize workers’ contributions and review employee benefits and wellbeing programs.

May 27 – Memorial Day (US)

Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday of May. The red poppy is the official flower of remembrance, and service organizations continue to make red poppies for Memorial Day. Consider buying from an official organization, as the donations support the families of fallen Soldiers.

May 20, 2024 – International HR Day

Companies are increasingly recognizing and celebrating HR as a powerful part of their business leadership team. International HR Day is the perfect moment to celebrate yourselves and your teams and recognize the strides you’ve made in contributing to your organization’s strategic governance and the impact you’ve made serving as the drivers of an exceptional company culture that boosts employee engagement and satisfaction, productivity, and retention.

May 27, 2024 – Memorial Day (US)

Memorial Day honors and remembers the people who have given their lives to military service.

To honor this day, you can begin the workday with a moment of silence. Workplace initiatives and activities can include organizing a charity fundraiser to support veterans and military families, volunteering at a local veterans’ center, or assisting military families in need.

June

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. HR departments can use this time to highlight inclusivity in the workplace, promote anti-discrimination policies, and host events that foster a supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ employees. Have an ERG for Pride? This is the time to join forces and plan events throughout the month.

June 15-30 – Mid-year performance management

Mid-year reviews are crucial for assessing employee progress, adjusting goals, and providing feedback. Remember to set aside time to train managers on your company’s best practices around performance reviews and share the tools they can use to conduct fair and constructive reviews. 

June 19 – Juneteenth (US)

This date marks the end of slavery in the US. It’s a significant day to reflect on history and renew commitments to diversity and inclusion.

June 30 – End of Fiscal Year (UK)

Prepare your organization for the end of the fiscal year. HR teams should ensure that all reporting is current and employee benefits and payroll adjustments are in place.

July

July 4 – Independence Day (US)

Independence Day is a day of celebration across the US. It is a perfect opportunity for HR to promote work-life balance and offer flexible scheduling to allow employees time to celebrate.

July 14 – Non-Binary People’s Day

This day celebrates individuals who identify outside the binary gender framework. HR can raise awareness of non-binary identities and ensure that policies around gender inclusivity are up-to-date and supportive.

July 30 – International Day of Friendship

Make friends by encouraging a collaborative environment today. Perhaps cross-divisional team-building exercises will bring on new friendships, or place board games on the tables around the office and see what new connections can be formed.

August

August 15 – Assumption of Mary (Catholic)

A public holiday in some countries, this day provides an opportunity to accommodate religious observances and promote inclusivity in scheduling.

August 26 – Women’s Equality Day (US)

Celebrate progress toward gender equality, particularly in the workplace. This could be an opportunity for HR to promote gender diversity initiatives. Do you have an ERG for women? Check with them to see if they would like to use this day for any activities.

September

September 1 – Labor Day (US)

Labor Day in the US recognizes workers’ contributions. It’s a great time to reassess labor policies, benefits, and work-life balance efforts. If you are a global company, keep in mind that May 1, mentioned above, is International Labor Day. 

September 15 – October 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and culture of Hispanic and Latino employees. HR can promote this through cultural events and educational programs that highlight diversity in the workplace. Ariba!

September 22 – World Car Free Day

Encourage employees to leave their cars at home today and use more sustainable modes of transportation. HR can support this with programs to promote walking, biking, or using public transport. Have your social media teams and channels ready for lots of pictures and memes today.

September 26 – HR Appreciation Day

HR Appreciation Day is a chance to acknowledge the hard work of HR professionals. Use this day to recognize the HR team’s contributions and highlight their essential role in shaping the workplace. And if you are a small HR team in an SMB (party of one, for instance!), don’t forget to make your own celebration for all that you do.

September 30 – Talent Acquisition Day

A day dedicated to the art of recruiting and hiring? You bet. HR can use TAD to review recruiting strategies, strengthen talent pipelines, and celebrate the work of talent acquisition teams. Make a day out of it with an off-site meeting for all departments involved and nail down the strategy that will grow your business.

September 1-30 – Benefits open enrollment (US)

Open enrollment month is the perfect time for employees to review and change their health benefits. Since benefits are a key factor in employee attraction and retention, HR can use this month to highlight specific benefits like a new fertility plan or updated health benefits and help employees access all the information they need to make informed choices.

October

October 1-31 – Black History Month (UK)

As the US did in February, this is an opportunity to celebrate Black history and achievements in the UK. HR can organize events or educational sessions promoting workplace diversity and inclusion.

October 10 – World Mental Health Day

Today is a good day for HR to lean on collective data for red flags. Indicators like absences, sick days, and late days can help managers and HR start a conversation and open a door to wellbeing. It’s a great time to promote resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and mental health days.

October 15 – Budgeting sessions begin

As the year comes to a close, HR departments should begin planning budgets for the following year. This includes workforce planning, benefits adjustments, and training program funding to ensure organizational needs are met.

October 31 – Halloween

Halloween is undoubtedly a recognized holiday around the world today, but do you know how your employees prefer to celebrate? Why not send out a survey or short poll to see if a costume contest or team-building activity is the sweetest reward? 

November

November 1-30 – Holiday planning

As the holiday season approaches, HR can stay ahead of the hustle and bustle by finalizing schedules, planning company-wide holiday events, and ensuring coverage for essential operations during holiday leave. This includes conducting a thorough search for all the holidays celebrated by global employees and referencing your DEI&B policies and procedures to ensure inclusivity in all your celebration plans. 

November 11 – Veterans Day (US)

Honor those who have served in the military. HR can take this time to highlight veteran hiring initiatives and promote veteran-related benefits. Unlike Memorial Day, which honors the fallen, Veterans Day primarily aims to thank living veterans for their service. HR should find a way to let employees know which employees are veterans so that they may be honored.

November 15-30 – Year-end reviews

These two weeks are ideal for HR to begin year-end performance evaluations. This review process helps employees set goals for the new year and aligns individual contributions with broader company objectives.

November 27 – Thanksgiving Day (US)

Show appreciation for your employees by hosting a company-wide thank-you event or encouraging volunteerism around this holiday.

December

December 1-15 – New Year goal setting

December is the time to finalize company-wide goals for 2026. HR leaders can guide managers in setting department-specific targets that align with the organization’s long-term strategy and encourage managers to schedule time to align with and set new team goals.

December 1-15 – End-year performance management

The end of the year is a critical time for performance management, as it allows HR to review employee achievements, reassess goals, and plan for the upcoming year. HR leaders should use this time to facilitate constructive feedback sessions, align individual performance with company objectives, and set growth opportunities for the new year. 

December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities

The International Day for People with Disabilities, observed on December 3, aims to raise awareness and promote inclusion for individuals with disabilities. HR leaders can use this day to review company policies, ensure workplace accessibility, and foster a culture of inclusivity. 

December 25 – Christmas Day

A public holiday in many parts of the world, Christmas is a great time to remind employees of holiday policies and encourage them to take time off and recharge.

December 31 – New Year’s Eve

As the year closes, HR departments around the world can reflect on the past year’s achievements and set goals for the coming year. Make notes of what worked well, what didn’t, and which activities you need more time for next year. Now put those notes in the top drawer, breathe deep, and bookmark this blog. The dates for 2026 will be ready and waiting for your next planning phase.

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Incorporating these events into your HR calendar for 2025 will enhance employee engagement and contribute to a positive and inclusive company culture.

Just remember: Each of these holidays draws attention to specific social issues and programs companies can run year-round. They provide you with creative ways throughout the year to promote exceptional company cultures, improve DEI&B, and help your people connect more with their colleagues and your customers.