Renzo Downey
“DeSanta Claus” is stuffing an extra couple of days off in the stocking for every state employee this holiday season.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday state offices will be closed Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 in addition to the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve closures outlined in state law. It’s the third time in three years “DeSanta,” as his re-election campaign nicknamed him this holiday season, has granted state workers extra paid days off during the holidays.
State law doesn’t normally grant Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as paid days off. However, because Christmas and New Year’s land on Saturdays this season, state law shifts the observed holiday to the preceding Friday. The Governor’s gesture gives them the Thursday off as well, creating two four-day weekends.
“Our state employees worked hard throughout the year to ensure that Floridians were free to earn a living, to operate businesses and to choose educational options tailored for their children,” DeSantis said. “Closing state offices on December 23rd and December 30th will provide these employees with well-deserved time to spend the holiday season with their loved ones. The First Lady and I are thankful for the dedication of our state employees as we continue to put freedom first in Florida.”
Florida employees are allotted nine paid holidays throughout the year in state statute. Those are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after, as well as Christmas.
Giving state workers extra days off became somewhat of a tradition during former Gov. Rick Scott’s first years in office. However, in 2016, the Scott administration forewent the extra holiday, but approved raises for state workers the following year. There was also no 10th paid holiday in 2017.
DeSantis has maintained the tradition since he took office in 2019, granting state employees two additional days off each December. That year, he credit employees with “historic achievements.” Last year, he gave employees days off for their months of dedication battling COVID-19.
In 2018, Scott gifted workers days off on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in part for the response to and recovery from Hurricane Michael — and perhaps as a parting gift before assuming his new office in the U.S. Senate. Between 2011 and 2015, Scott gave workers an extra weekday off around Christmas. In 2008, former Gov. Charlie Crist gave workers both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve off with pay.
In past years with extra December time off, state workers who perform essential functions still had to work while state offices closed. State agencies determine which of its operations constitute essential services.
31 comments
Alex
December 13, 2021 at 2:53 pm
A better Xmas gift would be give them a raise.
“Florida among worst states for pay in the country, study says”
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/10/11/florida-among-worst-states-for-pay-in-the-country.html
Alex
December 13, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Here’s an idea:
Since Florida State employees make less than other states, give them a raise instead of a vacation.
Aviva
December 13, 2021 at 6:20 pm
Agreed!
Damien Killjoy
December 14, 2021 at 4:38 am
GOD BLESS RON DESANTIS!!! He’s doin an awesome job thus far at running the state of Florida! Hopefully governors in other states will follow his example and lead their people instead of overlording the unwashed masses!! Government is to be operated BY THE PEOPLE and not having power OVER THE PEOPLE!!!!
joe
December 14, 2021 at 8:43 am
amongs us is still youg its a grate game justlikke fortnite
joe
December 14, 2021 at 8:47 am
me agian ive bin to florda and well i think it s a grate + thay have a grate goverment ufishol
joe 3
December 14, 2021 at 8:55 am
yeah i agreee amog us is really cool and is grate like fortmite and so is roblox
elizabeth
December 14, 2021 at 9:25 am
good
elizabeth
December 14, 2021 at 9:26 am
it really good for that you did for the gift
Julie Murphy
December 14, 2021 at 9:51 am
Many many state employees don’t have paid vacations. These workers don’ t get paid for these two days off. Forced pay reduction. This is a money maker for Florida.
Joe Biden
December 14, 2021 at 10:55 am
among us sussy fortnite balls. lol lol lol lol lol
bob
December 14, 2021 at 11:09 am
Very nice of him to give the two extra days off to state employees.
For those that think he should do raises – across the board raises are counterproductive. Opening up wage increases to managers discretion would be the thing to do. There are state employees who come in and do just enough to get by that haven’t earned a raise, and there are outstanding hard-working employees that certainly have earned an increase.
Joe 8
December 14, 2021 at 11:06 am
Lol so sussy I lo=ike mogus us yes fortnite +roblox = fortnite minecaft aoungus swag
joe 6
December 14, 2021 at 11:27 am
h-i it me agin and i want to ask if anyone here wants to play amog us becaus itts still a god game
daddy
December 14, 2021 at 11:28 am
me big boy”Lol”
Byron
December 14, 2021 at 11:27 am
Sussy Sussy Sussy among us. among us. among us. lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol. yeet yeet yeet yeet yeet yeet yeet. Mommy mommy mommy mommy momm mommy. Fortnite, sus.
Crank 90’s on them bozos lol
ron dee santaa
December 14, 2021 at 11:31 am
Helo, i an ron de santa. give mee yur taxx moiny
joe 5
December 14, 2021 at 11:32 am
aong us is still good and so is fortnight becaus my frien an me play it so if anyone wants\\ to play jus say so pls
John Colgate
December 14, 2021 at 11:55 am
i hate you daddy ron
joe biden ad
December 15, 2021 at 8:13 am
joe good
donald trump ad
December 15, 2021 at 8:19 am
biden is trash
joe biden ad
December 15, 2021 at 8:21 am
broooooo 1v1 me fortnite right now
donald trump ad
December 15, 2021 at 8:23 am
broo chill !!!!!!!
micke moose
December 15, 2021 at 8:17 am
merry christmas everybody
Mr Gemrod
December 15, 2021 at 9:49 am
can you peaple stop leaveing random things on this i will call 911
big boy
December 15, 2021 at 10:51 am
How about “No”
jiden
December 15, 2021 at 10:53 am
Merry Halloween
joeseph
December 15, 2021 at 10:56 am
anyon wanna play wiht me an my freind on fortnight im really good i promise
Uncle Gary
December 15, 2021 at 11:21 am
Its my birthday. anyone wanna “Hang”
timothy
December 15, 2021 at 11:23 am
sure bro u got amog us or minecarft becase if yu dont i hav rolex
uncle joe
December 15, 2021 at 11:25 am
i have doodle jump and fortnight
Comments are closed.