Christmas Eve Off for Federal Employees?

[93henfan]

It is a tradition for POTUS to issue an executive order declaring Christmas Eve a day off for federal employees when it falls on a Monday, as it does in 2008. This was done in the last 60 years every time it has fallen on Monday except once:

Obama in 2012
GW Bush in 2007 and 2001
GHW Bush in 1990
Carter in 1979
Nixon in 1973
Kennedy in 1962

Reagan did NOT in 1984

Trump is currently at war with federal unions. He is being sued by AFGE. In addition, numbers have been released showing that federal employee unions donated to Dems over Reps by a factor of 3 to 1 and federal employees themselves donated to Dems over Reps by a factor of 4 to 1.

So, it'll be interesting to see if we get a Monday Christmas Eve off, per custom.

[93henfan]

Bump.

[93henfan]

I don't see any votes yet, so I went ahead and voted "YES".

We deserve it. Jesus deserves it.

[UNI88]

I voted for everyone but you just to be an azzhole.

What about the shutdown?

Does D1B get Christmas Eve off?

[93henfan]

I voted for everyone but you just to be an azzhole.

What about the shutdown?

Does D1B get Christmas Eve off?

Thanks for your support. I supported Iowa tourism and paid your exorbitant sales and hotel taxes. And this is how I'm repaid?

The latest is, likely another two week CR: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/ ... ay-1064857 Trump is headed to Mar-a-Lago for two weeks, so he wants to buy time, move the fight (which he knows he'll lose - Republicans don't want to fund the wall either) until January, and then he can tie up the new Dem house on it for a little bit and claim victory even though he'll lose.

I am not in contact with D1B.

[css75]

With the shutdown coming (it will happen), The 24 th being a holiday is going to be a no. Federal Unions should be abolished, all they do is impede faster ways to do things and their number one thing is protect incompetent and troublesome employees.


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[HI54UNI]

He should let the offices close but employees have to use a vacation day if they don't want to work. That's what my employer is doing for both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

[UNI88]

I voted for everyone but you just to be an azzhole.

What about the shutdown?

Does D1B get Christmas Eve off?

Thanks for your support. I supported Iowa tourism and paid your exorbitant sales and hotel taxes. And this is how I'm repaid?

The latest is, likely another two week CR: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/ ... ay-1064857 Trump is headed to Mar-a-Lago for two weeks, so he wants to buy time, move the fight (which he knows he'll lose - Republicans don't want to fund the wall either) until January, and then he can tie up the new Dem house on it for a little bit and claim victory even though he'll lose.

I am not in contact with D1B.

I live in the Illinois SSR not IowAwesome but for you I'll contact the 13th ward about signing an affidavit to invalidate my vote.

IMO, Trump should take the high road on this and give federal employees Christmas Eve off. It's not in his DNA to do something like that but if he did he could get some positive PR spin.

[93henfan]

He should let the offices close but employees have to use a vacation day if they don't want to work. That's what my employer is doing for both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

So you have telework in place I assume?

We do this most of the time for snow days in DC now. You can take leave or work from home. It has to be a biggie (like five inches ) to shut it down completely.

[93henfan]

Federal Unions should be abolished, all they do is impede faster ways to do things and their number one thing is protect incompetent and troublesome employees.

True to an extent, but they also keep federal employees from turning into contractor employees, who end up costing the government even more in many cases. Better to keep a stable workforce in place at a meager salary than a bunch of cowboy contractors who bilk the government every chance they get.

Here's the problem: when it's an actual private company doing work for profit, there's an incentive to keep costs down. When it's an actual government worker with democratic oversight, there's an incentive to keep costs down. But when you contract out to a private contractor and take both competition and government oversight mostly out of the picture, you've created a government-sanctioned monopoly - a private company basically does the work of the state but with an eye toward making profit, not through competition but through a parasitic relationship with the state. This is bad for taxpayers, obviously, but it gives politicians an opening to say they "shrunk government" and often line their own pockets. This is called cronyism in many circles, and with good reason.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2 ... 77202e6266

Truer words were never spoken. I have more insight into this than anyone else on this board, as I'm a career federal acquisition guru.

Also, because of my position, I've never been allowed to be in the bargaining unit or join a union.

[CID1990]

I don’t see how it matters

The unionized ones will bang out anyway

And the work product that day won’t be affected one bit

[Pwns]

Do it because I like to watch the idiots at the FFRF pitch a fit.

[89Hen]

No. Good way to burn a PTO day for 90% of the payroll.

[Ivytalk]

93 is getting no love on this poll!

[GannonFan]

No. Good way to burn a PTO day for 90% of the payroll.

Yup, now that I think of it, you're right, use the PTO day and take off. Most normal people don't get off on MLK Day, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, and Veteran's Day, so if the Federal workforce also wants off on Christmas Eve Day then either take a PTO or ask in the future to have one of those other days be a workday.

[css75]

My money is on the 24th being a Holiday. Traditionally it usually has been when Christmas falls on Tuesday.

If they do make it a holiday, it should be done soon, so appointment schedules can be changed.


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[Ibanez]

You've got PTO, take it.

DRAIN THE SWAMP!

[89Hen]

If they do make it a holiday, it should be done soon, so appointment schedules can be changed.

Anyone who schedules an appointment for Monday, December 24th should be fired anyway. It's like having a jazz song on the jukebox. They use it for profiling.

[Gil Dobie]

I'm working, but the office closes 2 hours early.

[93henfan]

This thread's a wrap!

President Trump issued an executive order Tuesday evening closing federal offices and excusing employees from duty on Dec. 24.

https://m.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2018 ... ve/153661/

[Winterborn]

This thread's a wrap!

President Trump issued an executive order Tuesday evening closing federal offices and excusing employees from duty on Dec. 24.

https://m.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2018 ... ve/153661/

Bet the fine print has an exclusion clause just for you.

[93henfan]

This thread's a wrap!

https://m.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2018 ... ve/153661/

Bet the fine print has an exclusion clause just for you.

[Col Hogan]

Federal Unions should be abolished, all they do is impede faster ways to do things and their number one thing is protect incompetent and troublesome employees.

True to an extent, but they also keep federal employees from turning into contractor employees, who end up costing the government even more in many cases. Better to keep a stable workforce in place at a meager salary than a bunch of cowboy contractors who bilk the government every chance they get.

Here's the problem: when it's an actual private company doing work for profit, there's an incentive to keep costs down. When it's an actual government worker with democratic oversight, there's an incentive to keep costs down. But when you contract out to a private contractor and take both competition and government oversight mostly out of the picture, you've created a government-sanctioned monopoly - a private company basically does the work of the state but with an eye toward making profit, not through competition but through a parasitic relationship with the state. This is bad for taxpayers, obviously, but it gives politicians an opening to say they "shrunk government" and often line their own pockets. This is called cronyism in many circles, and with good reason.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2 ... 77202e6266

Truer words were never spoken. I have more insight into this than anyone else on this board, as I'm a career federal acquisition guru.

Also, because of my position, I've never been allowed to be in the bargaining unit or join a union.

That’s one perspective, and not an incorrect one...but it’s the short, or immediate view...

If one wants to take the long view, contractors can be much cheaper in the long run. Yes, a contractor costs more than a civil servant if you look at one day’s costs...but once the civil servant reaches retirement, the government is still on the hook to pay them until they die...

A contractor, on the other hand, is off the government books the moment they leave the job...no retirement annuity to worry about, no life insurance,...NOTHING...

Just another perspective...

[93henfan]

True to an extent, but they also keep federal employees from turning into contractor employees, who end up costing the government even more in many cases. Better to keep a stable workforce in place at a meager salary than a bunch of cowboy contractors who bilk the government every chance they get.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2 ... 77202e6266

Truer words were never spoken. I have more insight into this than anyone else on this board, as I'm a career federal acquisition guru.

Also, because of my position, I've never been allowed to be in the bargaining unit or join a union.

That’s one perspective, and not an incorrect one...but it’s the short, or immediate view...

If one wants to take the long view, contractors can be much cheaper in the long run. Yes, a contractor costs more than a civil servant if you look at one day’s costs...but once the civil servant reaches retirement, the government is still on the hook to pay them until they die...

A contractor, on the other hand, is off the government books the moment they leave the job...no retirement annuity to worry about, no life insurance,...NOTHING...

Just another perspective...

And immediately replaced by the next contract.

[89Hen]

This thread's a wrap!

Yes and no. You asked if he should, not whether he would. I would have answered differently.

I do wonder what the cost of giving a day off is. 3,000,000 government employees who would have otherwise used a PTO day... $323 per day for an average gov salary = $971,000,000 according to my math. That's actually a lot more than I even first thought.