Comments on: DeSantis: State Offices Will Be Closed Three Extra Days For The Holidays

By: Stumpknocker

Stumpknocker — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 16:39:28 +0000

@ Henry Coe you would like to compare paid days off to private sector? Well let’s don’t stop there, let’s compare wages and benefits to private sector and as soon as you do that tax payers can no longer afford to pay the wages. There has been a great decline in law enforcement, fire and paramedics. This causes the agencies to start to lower the bar so just about anyone can qualify for these jobs, remember this when you call for assistance.

By: Allen Lukkar

Allen Lukkar — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:58:43 +0000

We have one of the best governor’s in the entire country! Good Lord at the cry-babies.

By: John Bone Jones

John Bone Jones — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:43:01 +0000

If a democratic governor did this, I wonder if conservatives would complain about laziness. Seems to be double standards these days when it comes to the actions of our parties (both).

By: joy

joy — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 11:39:26 +0000

all of these complaints about the gov. and rightly so =YET he was voted easily back in! It amazes me that freedoms do not matter to so many any more

By: James Smith

James Smith — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 02:44:31 +0000

FYI,
These will be paid days off for many but not all state employees. There are many positions that are classified as OPS and they get no paid holidays, no paid vacation, and no paid sick time. The reality is that more years than not employees with the State of Florida do not get any pay raise. If you do a little research comparing the salaries of Florida state employees to other states it is embarrassingly low. For example, a Florida State Trooper withe 25 years of service makes approximately the same salary as a new hire state trooper in Louisiana. Many law enforcement and other state employees will be working on Thanksgiving and Christmas day serving the citizens of this state. Governor Desantis has increased salaries for these public servants and thank God he is giving most of them three extra days off with pay. They deserve much more but this is a move in the right direction.

By: Henry Coe

Henry Coe — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 16:13:50 +0000

Desantis signed a 5.3% across-the-board pay raise for state employees earlier this year.

FL St 110.117 Paid holidays. State employees do get holiday pay.

Whether these extra days off are paid days off for state employees is not clear. There is no law that mandates getting paid for days off but that doesn’t mean state employees are not getting paid for these days off declared by Desantis.

It’s a shame state employees don’t get a COLA adjustment.

I don’t see the excuses of the pandemic or hurricanes as a valid justification for State Employees across the entire state to get extra days off when the rest of us need the State to be operational in order for society to function.

Just because someone supports Desantis does not mean you can declare these extra days off as cost neutral whether they are paid days off or not. It has economic impact especially if State Employees are losing three days of income.

By: FaithinUS

FaithinUS — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 14:39:20 +0000

I’m sure these workers are grateful for the extra days off, but DeSantis approached this as if they’re HIS employees and not Our PUBLIC Servants.
Just took 3 days of help from all those hurricane victims- and the rest of us with day jobs.

By: Cdpjr

Cdpjr — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 13:42:01 +0000

Henry Coe and Sherrie, Hope you are having a good day.
Just FYI, Did you know that state and county workers also pay taxes just like you do?
Raises are not “guaranteed” every year. I went 7 years without a pay increase while the rate of inflation DID increase. I f I got a raise every year I would being doing pretty good now after 15 years. Also the rate of inflation has eatin up any pay increases in the last 2 years and then some.
If it wasn’t for the benefits( which are now being chewed up with the rate of inflation just like everyone else) and the retirement (which now we have to pay part of that we didn’t before Rick Scott) I wouldn’t be there.
I can make 3x’s the amount that I make with the state doing my old business I had doing home repairs… BUT….there isn’t any retirement or insurance coverage like I get with the state that can be affordable…. so a steady lower paycheck twice a month is more stable to provide for my family even in slow times.
Please have a great day and don’t judge someone else’s life till you know ALL the facts. Thanks for reading

By: Josh Jones

Josh Jones — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 23:12:58 +0000

@HenryCoe

“…State employees who also get COLAs.”

Incorrect. State employees get no COLA. Any salary adjustment is at the behest of the Republican Florida Legislature, which means almost never. I worked for the State for 12 years, and there was never a salary increase in all that time. One year the legislature granted a one-time $1000 bonus.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 22:55:44 +0000

Having just gone from 20+ years of public service and government pay to working for a private corporation, I can assure you there is no comparison. Private businesses pay much better and offer much better benefits. If you would like to raise the “my tax dollars pay their salary” argument, well they pay taxes, too. What’s the harm in giving these folks 3 extra days off around the holidays to spend with their loved ones? Shame of all of you complainers. Thank a public servant when you see one because they are usually underpaid and overworked.