By 2026, numerous organizations have embraced Juneteenth as an official company holiday. At WorkTango, we're proud to be part of this movement. If your organization hasn't joined yet, now is the time to start.
We wanted to share more about Juneteenth, why we made it a company holiday at WorkTango, and the power your company holiday calendar has to create a truly inclusive culture.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is an American holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is recognized annually on June 19.
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas. With him, he carried federal orders declaring that all previously enslaved people in Texas were now free. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed enslaved people in America two years earlier, Texas was the most remote of the slaveholding states. As a result, around 250,000 people remained enslaved in Texas until General Granger delivered the federal orders to Galveston in 1865, finally ending slavery in the U.S.
On Juneteenth, cities across the United States honor the history and ongoing legacy of freedom, culture, and community. Celebrations include readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, street fairs, cookouts, musical performances, reflections on the work of influential Black Americans, and more.
Why did we make Juneteenth a company holiday?
Making Juneteenth an official company holiday reinforces the values we already stand for. It’s a meaningful opportunity to align our actions with our beliefs through company policy.
By establishing Juneteenth as a paid holiday, we signal our commitment to honoring something deeply significant to members of our community, and by extension, to all of us. The importance of Juneteenth is undeniable, and we knew we had to weave it into the fabric of our company culture.
The People & Culture team (the same people behind all of WorkTango’s DE&I events) encourages everyone to use the day off as an opportunity to learn more about the history behind the holiday and why it’s so important.
Download this year's DE&I Calendar to support your year-round initiatives of creating welcoming workplaces. It’s a great way to stay on top of all the key secular, professional, cultural, and religious holidays you need to keep your DE&I strategy strong.
How you can honor Juneteenth at your company
Here are three ways to start recognizing Juneteenth at your company.- Make it a paid holiday
- Educate yourself and encourage others to do the same
- Celebrate Black music, food, and culture
Make it a paid holiday
It can be complicated to create new company holidays, especially at the last minute. But it counts.
Company calendars, policies, and holidays set the tone for creating an inclusive company culture. These things show your employees that you recognize diversity in your workplace and are committed to an inclusive culture.
Educate yourself and encourage others to do the same
Why is it called Juneteenth? Find out where the name originated.
Challenge your employees to research the history of the holiday and to learn why it is essential to the Black community.
Not sure where to start? Check out the resources from Juneteenth.com and this video tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Slavery & Freedom, 1400-1877.
Note: It’s important that you avoid asking your Black employees to educate you or your team about Juneteenth or its history. This can be tokenizing and places an unfair emotional burden on them without compensation.
Celebrate Black music, food, and culture
Virtual and in-person freedom festivals are planned from coast to coast. Click here for a list of online Juneteenth events for 2026 from Eventbrite or this list of virtual ideas for your workplace.
Where you can celebrate Juneteenth
To help in-person teams make the most of this milestone day, we’ve also compiled a list of planned events.
