Obama gives Federal workers Christmas Eve day off

**asmom** · 12-21-2012, 07:05 PM

It's one lousy day, let them enjoy it.

Oh and Merry Christmas!

**marvholly** · 12-22-2012, 01:06 AM

Many private sector companies have 1/more floating holidays/year. On years when a date specific holiday (Christmas, New Year, July 4...)falls on a Tue or Thur they use it to keep vacation day requests & sick day callins down/non-existant.

Figure the same thought process here. Also, in most instances no actual work gets done on this type of day. People are discussing plans for the holiday, sharing food........

**Bob B.** · 12-22-2012, 01:33 AM

Think about it. Christmas eve is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Unless you work retail, you probably have the day off. Who's shopping? Not Just Federal employees.

**Mjenn** · 12-22-2012, 05:13 AM

As one of those people who believes that happy employees are better employees, I think this will equal more productivity. Do you really think all of those workers are going to be putting in their best on Christmas? Nah, give them the day off as a 'present' and the good atmosphere will lead to higher productivity when they get back, rather than the office doldrums.

**cooliemae** · 12-22-2012, 06:08 AM

There's always a great deal of talk about government workers and how well they have it.

As a government worker I can say that we don't have it as well as everyone makes it sound. I'm not going to get started because it would be a while, but I will say that government workers pay rates have been frozen since 2010. In 2011 & 2012, the average pay increase across the country was 2.7% each year and in 2013 the average pay increase is expected to be 2.9%. That means that government workers pay has decreased approximately 5.6% due to inflation.

I don't believe that it's a huge issue to give employees an extra day off now and again (It's been since 2009 that Obama gave employees time off and it was a half-day). Seeing as most businesses can do the same thing for their employees.

**QuarterMillionMan** · 12-22-2012, 12:17 PM

Mr Scrooge

5 to 1, I know when I'm beat. I've turned into quite a Mr. Scrooge. Oh Merry Christmas? Yes Merry Christmas, Bah-Hum-Bug (lol).

**Joan.of.the.Arch** · 12-22-2012, 12:40 PM

Be consoled, QMM. There is no way ALL federal employees can be given any single day of the year off. It would not be safe. In addition, some who are supposedly off will be called in, called at home for info or advice. Some are working on projects that simply cannot be halted, so they will go to work regardless of being told they have an extra day off.

**disneysteve** · 12-22-2012, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by Bob B. View Post

Think about it. Christmas eve is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Unless you work retail, you probably have the day off.

Retail workers are not the only ones working. In fact, I'd say most folks are working Monday. Monday isn't a holiday. Tuesday is the holiday. Teachers are off because schools are on break, but that's probably about it. I'm working. My wife's office is open, though she is off on Mondays normally. Many businesses can't afford to shut down for 2 days to observe a one-day holiday.

**GrimJack** · 12-22-2012, 03:34 PM

I am a Federal worker; I don't get the day off because I already took it as vacation. I am not sure but how many people are going to be calling the IRS, or any of the other TLAs on the day before christmas? Any calls would be of the emergency variety and those are staffed normally. I have worked the Friday after T-day and there are no calls; from what I have been told any day that gets between a holiday and the weekend is completely dead-time. They gave me Dec. 31 as LWOP (leave w/out pay) for the asking and we seasonals normally only LWOP in weekly increments. Paying us to go to work actually costs money if you consider building and support stuff.

**disneysteve** · 12-22-2012, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by GrimJack View Post

from what I have been told any day that gets between a holiday and the weekend is completely dead-time.

We run into this problem often at work. We're open but insurance companies aren't so it is difficult to get certain things done. We can't get authorizations for treatment, prescriptions, testing, etc. It creates an unnecessary delay in caring for patients.

**kv968** · 12-23-2012, 03:37 AM

We don't have Monday off either (large pharma co.) but the parking lot surely won't show it. My department has to be staffed, at least minimally, 365 days a year so I'm used to working all that anyway. As a matter of fact I get to work Xmas this year

The thing I find funny is how PC the company has become. Years ago, they used to let us go early on Christmas Eve but then they announced that since it's a "religious holiday" they couldn't do it anymore so as not to discriminate I guess. You could leave and not get paid for it but they couldn't "officially" let us go. I personally just think it's a way for them to get around letting people go early and paying them for it. I mean if it was that "discriminatory" to observe the holiday why would we have Xmas itself off?

**disneysteve** · 12-23-2012, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by kv968 View Post

I mean if it was that "discriminatory" to observe the holiday why would we have Xmas itself off?

December 25 is a Federal holiday. Dec 24 is not.

**Like2Plan** · 12-23-2012, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by GrimJack View Post

I am a Federal worker; I don't get the day off because I already took it as vacation.

Usually Christmas Eve works this way only when part of the day is excused. Is this because you are seasonal status? I didn't think it was possible to get charged leave for a designated holiday even if you already took the day off (the system overrides it).

The executive order even authorizes in lieu of holidays. Executive Order-- Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Monday, December 24, 2012

**Bayspieler** · 12-23-2012, 09:10 AM

Most government workers applied for leave on the 24th weeks ago. Based on my experience, I expect that those who would be there would be doing very little, since 75% of the people they need to talk to to get things done wouldn't be there.

The leave returned to the workers by the President is probably going to be lost at the end of the calender year anyway. Government workers are only allowed to carry forward so much leave to the next calender year, so most of them burn up their 'use or lose' during the holiday period.

Given current realities, this is probably the most efficient thing the President can do. The government will be effectively shut down with pay on the 24th anyway, and by officially shutting down, they will save a little on the lights, etc.

And, yes, if there's a genuine crises, there are plans in place to get the people they need in for the day.

Obama gives Federal workers Christmas Eve day off