TOPICS
TOPICS
Ho, Ho, Ho, Off to Work
Sorry to break the news, but the odds are slim this year that President Bush will grant federal employees any additional time off around Christmas.
Historically, presidents often have granted an extra day or half-day of vacation when Christmas falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. In those cases, federal employees are sometimes given Monday or Friday off to create a four-day weekend.
This year, though, Dec. 25 is on a Monday.
"Federal employees should not expect additional time off this holiday season," a spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management said this week with a measure of confidence. He left a snowflake of hope, though, cautioning that the ultimate decision is up to the White House, not OPM.
In 2002, when Christmas fell on a Wednesday, President Bush gave federal workers a half day of vacation on Tuesday for Christmas Eve, even when OPM had said the chances were slim. Usually, the president issues an executive order announcing the extra time off in early December.
There's always next year, when Christmas again falls on a Tuesday. And in 2008, during President Bush's last days in office, he'll get another chance to be generous. Because 2008 is a leap year, Christmas falls on a Thursday.
There's also the issue of New Year's Day, another federal holiday. This year, both New Year's and Christmas fall in the same pay period -- Dec. 24 through Jan. 6 -- complicating matters a bit.
This could be a boon or a bust for employees who work on alternative work schedules, such as the popular nine-hour workday with every other Friday off. OPM released a memo last week advising agencies to give some employees credit for the time they would have usually worked on the holidays and to ask others to make it up.
Employees on compressed work schedules, such as the one described above, are generally given credit for the full amount of time they would have worked. But employees on flexible work schedules, which could mean just working odd hours, are only given eight hours of credit for holidays, and must squeeze in the additional hours they might have worked those days somewhere else within the pay period.
Finally, it's worth noting that not all federal employees get the holidays off. Employees with essential duties still have to show up, but they get twice their normal rate of pay for the day's work.
COMMENTS
- There has been proven studies on increased job satisfaction and productivity levels with days off. The more days off the better, life is not all about work. We need to learn how to enjoy it! Taxpayer, I hope you do not lead any of our people, if so you might want to take some leadership/mgmt courses:) Your BOSS Posted November 19, 2007 3:01 PM
- Taxpayer, get a life! Yeah, if you were president, no one would ever take a single day off, and this country would be the envy of the world! So what? Most Europeans get at least six weeks of paid vacation every summer, and their economies are just as positive as ours. Forget the Protestant work ethic nonsense. This is 2006, not 1606. People in the government earn less than the private sector, but have some extras. Stop trying to turn the government into the corrupt and valueless private sector. Give us a break! GovExec.com reader Posted December 12, 2006 9:15 PM
- Skeptical, I have worked for many private firms and never ever faced what you say is the practice. Please list the companies that give weeks off at Christmas and those that give Easter Monday and Good Friday off. This would lead to extensive lawsuits for religious discrimination and I cannot believe that you know of any companies that do this. Anyway provide the list so I know where to look! Taxpayer Posted December 11, 2006 6:46 AM
