Of all the suggestions to deal with the state's budget crisis, cutting the number of holidays state workers enjoy ought to be the least controversial. In the holiday sweepstakes, few workers can top California state employees.
State workers receive 13 paid holidays a year – New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and Christmas – plus a personal day off.
Each paid holiday costs the state $13.1 million, mostly in overtime for essential workers, such as prison guards and firefighters, who have to work holidays. These workers get overtime for working holidays, and they receive a holiday credit – a different day off to compensate for having worked the holiday.
The governor proposes to eliminate two holidays. Columbus Day would be dropped and Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays combined. He would also eliminate overtime pay for holiday work. Employees who worked holidays would still get a day off, they just wouldn't get overtime on top of it. The proposal would save nearly $40 million this fiscal year and $75 million next year.
Those who object to trimming holidays ought to check with other employers. None we could identify are as generous as the state. Federal workers receive just 10 paid holidays a year. The state of Nevada gives its employees 11. Sacramento County workers get 12.
Private-sector employers are far less generous. The Sacramento Bee gives its workers nine days off; SureWest Communications, eight holidays. Workers at Sacramento's Lemon Grass restaurant get just five paid holidays a year.
Everyone will have to sacrifice to deal with the unprecedented fiscal crisis facing the state. Cutting state holidays is not too much to ask.
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