State employees in Florida will get a five-day weekend and two four-day weekends during the upcoming holiday season.
This year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day all fall on Thursdays, giving state workers longer breaks. Offices were already set to close the Friday after Thanksgiving.
On November 17, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced in a news release that state offices would also close on November 26, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as the Fridays following Christmas and New Year’s Day, December 26 and January 2.
The Republican governor said, “Our state employees have worked hard throughout the year. I hope they enjoy additional time off with loved ones and friends this holiday season. The First Lady and I are thankful for their continued dedication to the people of Florida,” reports the Irish Star.
DeSantis has routinely given state employees extended holiday breaks whenever possible during his time in office.
Earlier this year, he approved the closure of state offices on Thursday, July 3, ahead of Independence Day festivities.
However, the Tallahassee Democrat reports that the move may result in reduced pay for some employees. State regulations prevent the governor from offering these benefits to workers classified as Other Personal Services.
These OPS workers are part-time staff hired to fill temporary needs. More than 9,900 OPS workers are employed across 30 state agencies, according to the Department of Management Services Annual Workforce report.
They make up about 10% of the lowest-paid state workforce.
During Trump’s second term, state workers were among the most vulnerable, with hundreds of thousands of federal civil service layoffs announced by the administration.
Most of these layoffs came from Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, previously led by Tesla founder Elon Musk, who later distanced himself from the president after leaving the role.
Trump and Governor DeSantis have had a tense relationship, marked by a fierce public rivalry during DeSantis’ 2024 bid for the Republican nomination.
Since Trump began his second term, however, DeSantis has urged Republicans to support him and has shown support at the state level.
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