TOPICS
TOPICS
Extra day off around Christmas doubtful, OPM says
Federal employees are unlikely to receive an additional day off for Christmas this year, according to an Office of Personnel Management spokesman.
Christmas falls on a Sunday, and federal employees will get Monday, Dec. 26, as the federal holiday. That likely will be the only day off, OPM said.
Historically, presidents only have granted an extra day or half-day of vacation when Christmas falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the spokesman said. In those cases, federal employees are sometimes given the Monday or Friday off to create a four-day weekend.
In order for President Bush to grant the extra time off, he would need to issue an executive order. In 2002, Bush waited until Dec. 19 to order a half-day off for Christmas Eve, which fell on a Tuesday.
The last time the president granted extra time off, he issued the executive order much earlier, on Dec. 9, 2003. Silence from the White House this late in the year suggests Bush will not grant employees an extra vacation day in 2005.
The next time federal employees will be poised to receive an additional day off is in 2007. That year, Christmas will fall on a Tuesday.
This year, federal employees seem to be out of luck for New Year's Eve, too, because Dec. 31 is a Saturday. New Year's Day is an annual holiday for federal workers and will be recognized on Monday, Jan. 2.
COMMENTS
- I agree with the last post. I earn plenty of leave and get more than enough holidays off. If people wouldn't abuse their leave all year long, then they would have enough to take off at the holidays. I don't think that anyone really realizes how much an extra administrative day of leave costs the government. Here is what we are telling our folks if you want Dec. 26 or Jan. 2 off – sign up for leave! Rhonda Posted December 23, 2006 9:07 AM
- Actually I totally agree with the DHS post, I don't plan things on the whim of the current administration, but perhaps a better approach is to grant the president an additional day off. Imagine that folks, for one day while we are work, he won't be running around breaking things. To me that's real administrative leave. OPM, please get a clue GovExec.com reader Posted December 21, 2005 9:23 PM
- The extra day off is very nice and appreciated. However, the President of the United States never should give employees any extra down time. It is not his place to cost the taxpayer millions of dollars without congressional approval. If we are to get an extra day off it should be because Congress votes us the extra day off. I was taught that all money bills must begin in the House of Representatives and the President giving workers a day off is a money bill without congressional approval. The President also has given us an extra war without congressional approval (not the current one -- they did approve that). Congress needs to assert itself and take back control of the government from the President - read the article about the great congressional people (even though many were corrupt, Congress had control of the government). Government always should reflect the vote of the people and the executive branch does not do that! The executive branch only should carryout the will of Congress but Congress has to get real and regain control. The U.S. government is out of control and no longer representative of the people. Government of the people and by the people has gone from this earth! Sorry Abe. Taxpayer Posted December 23, 2005 7:12 AM
