Arlington, VA – Nearly eight in 10 employers surveyed (79 percent) designated both Thanksgiving Day and the day after as paid holidays in 2009, up from 73 percent in 2008. This is the highest percentage of employers granting two-day paid Thanksgiving leave since BNA began keeping records in 1980.  By contrast, employer gift giving is at a 16-year low.

However since gift certificates, followed by turkeys, are the most common employer Thanksgiving gifts, the decrease is unlikely to have much impact on the gift industry, while freeing up more potential shoppers for Black Friday sales may contribute to retail success.