TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

State Workers Get 2 Paid Days Off

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: December 20, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist played Santa Claus to state workers, who have gone two years without a cost-of-living pay raise, by giving them a holiday gift - two paid days off - as a token of appreciation.

As Florida struggles with a looming budget shortfall, Crist on Friday directed that state executive branch buildings be closed on the day after Christmas and the day after New Year's, which both fall on a Thursday this year.

"We thought it would be kind of nice and show appreciation - appropriate appreciation - to give those two Fridays off," Crist said.

Many employees already planned to use personal leave time on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, when typically little business is done, Crist said. Now they can save those days to use at another time.

Crist also expects the state to save money on utilities and management expense by keeping the buildings shut.

The Department of Management Services estimates the state can save nearly $468,000 in utility expenses from a two-day shutdown. Two days of pay for state employees is valued at about $30 million.

Employees who still must work on the two Fridays, including state troopers and prison guards, will be able to take two other days off before the budget year ends on June 30, said Management Services spokeswoman Linda McDonald.

The Republican governor announced the gift at a news conference with Democratic Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda of Tallahassee, who came up with the idea. She initially asked, though, for two weeks of paid time off for the employees, thousands of whom are her constituents.

"I came forward and asked for a pony," Vasilinda said. "We got a kitten, and I'm very pleased about it."

Doug Martin, spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said it's a welcome gift for state workers who repeatedly have been asked to sacrifice in difficult economic times.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT