Florida Governor DeSantis Grants State Workers Extra Paid Holidays for Christmas Season

The additional days off apply to full-time state employees but exclude part-time workers, highlighting disparities in holiday benefits.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced that full-time Florida state employees will receive December 23, 24, and 31 as additional paid holidays this year.
The decision rewards state workers after a challenging year that included responding to three major hurricanes and other crises.
Part-time 'Other Personal Services' (OPS) workers, who make up nearly 10,000 of the state’s workforce, are excluded from the extra paid time off due to state policies on benefits eligibility.
Critics have labeled the move as a superficial gesture, arguing it does not address broader issues such as paid family leave or protections for low-wage workers.
Florida’s strong financial position and minimal state workforce per capita were cited as enabling factors for the expanded holiday schedule.