Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that more than 100,000 state employees will receive three additional days off this year. The extra days off—December 23, 24, and 31—will be granted in addition to the traditional Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays.
In a statement, Governor DeSantis said, “Florida is in great shape, and we want to reward our state employees. After a year that included three costly hurricanes, we hope these extra days off will allow state workers to spend more time with their families and loved ones during the holiday season.”
The decision has been welcomed by many, including Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, who described the move as a “welcome” change. “The gesture of adding additional paid holidays is always appreciated, and Governor DeSantis’ decision aligns with similar actions by governors in other states,” Beene said. “When the state budget allows it, this kind of expansion typically happens.”
However, not everyone is supportive of the move. HR consultant Bryan Driscoll criticized the decision, calling it a “cheap political stunt.” He argued that while the extra days off may be appreciated, they don’t address broader issues facing workers, such as the lack of paid family leave and protections for low-wage workers. “This is more about optics than substance,” Driscoll said, adding that it does little to solve the real challenges workers face in Florida.
DeSantis has emphasized the efficiency of Florida’s state workforce during his presidential campaign, highlighting the state’s low number of employees relative to its population. In 2022, Florida had 164,829 state workers, far fewer than the national average of 198 state employees per 10,000 residents. Despite this, state revenues are strong, and many employees worked extra hours in response to Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Debby.
Beene noted that the state’s strong financial position and the difficulties of the holidays falling midweek make the extra time off a welcome gesture for many employees, who may have had to work longer hours than usual during the natural disasters.
While the additional days off provide some immediate relief for state workers, the broader issues of workers’ rights and job protections remain unresolved.
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