Arkansas Blog: The bah, humbug report

I've been chastised as a Scrooge for observing how city, county and state officials have been working to build five-day and longer weekends around Christmas and New Year's, courtesy of taxpayers. No more grumping, just an observation.

A reader sends along a snippet from the University of Arkansas, which has turned the two-week period into a virtually seamless holiday, Dec. 24-Jan. 4, inclusive.

Some of the days during this period are official state holidays: Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year's Day (Jan. 1). Dec. 26 has been declared an additional holiday by Governor Beebe. Other days are taken in lieu of state or federal holidays on which the University does not close (Dec. 29, in lieu of Veteran's Day; and Dec. 30, in lieu of the employee's birthday.) However, one day, Dec. 31, would ordinarily be charged to employees' annual leave. Governor Beebe has granted the University permission to allow UA employees who do not wish to use their annual leave on that day to work extra hours, as needed, during the earlier part of Dec. 2008, to avoid being charged annual leave for Dec. 31. Additionally, in order to conserve energy costs, the University will be closed on Jan. 2. Employees will be granted the opportunity to work extra hours, as needed, during the month of Jan. to avoid being charged annual leave for Jan. 2.

Don't tell the county judge about this scheme, please.

Comments

That's about as much time as full faculty , staff get for a vacation. 12 days by my count which includes two weekends.

Student registration will be all but complete before they leave so not much to do when they arrive back.

I know two friends who teach will enjoy another vacation.

Posted by: eLwood | December 3, 2008 07:10 AM

In defense of the "long weekends" for university and other government employees--it ain't exactly like any work would get done then anyway. I can only think of two businesses where much work gets done the last two weeks of December--retail stores and newspapers.

Posted by: Archaeopteryx | December 3, 2008 08:15 AM

. . . . . and hospitals, and fire/police departments, and airports, and . . . .

Posted by: durangokid | December 3, 2008 08:22 AM

So University employees get four paid days off for Christmas and New Year, including the additional Holiday decreed by Gov. Beebe to keep from having to turn on a few million square feet of frozen facilities for one day. This sticks in your craw, Max? Most of us will burn those two vacation days rather than accrue comp time to pay for them, but that's a nice option for people who can't afford the forced use of vacation days. The other two days are holidays others take off while we're working.

I think it's a good thing. It's not like we get raises or bonuses or anything.

Posted by: Whoscrumdown | December 3, 2008 08:29 AM

Sounds to like Max is a bit jealous.....

Posted by: CBM | December 3, 2008 08:35 AM

.......and law offices, and accounting practices (shucks), doctor's offices and , and service stations, construction and restaruants........

Posted by: mudturtle | December 3, 2008 01:27 PM

I think, Durango and Mudturtle, that you're ignoring the difference between being open and actually getting any work done.

Posted by: Archaeopteryx | December 3, 2008 02:01 PM

Arkansas Blog

The bah, humbug report

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