My employer will not pay a legal holiday if one takes off the day before or after the holiday. Is that legal?

Your employer is not required to pay you for the holiday at all, and does so at its discretion, absent a contractual obligation. The company can also establish its own criteria for receiving holiday pay. If you are unsure of your rights, contact a local employment attorney.

Disclaimer: I am not offering legal advice, assume I do not know the law in your state and that I am just making suggestions for starting points for when you do speak with an attorney. Do NOT rely on anything I write and contact a lawyer in your area immediately after reading my posting.