Lincoln’s birthday means another City ‘Hall-iday’
CITY HALL — The birthday of Abraham Lincoln — the 16th president who was born 195 years ago — may not be a big event for the average citizen. But for government employees it means another day off, with pay.
One of the perks of working for the government is paid holidays, which seem to occur more frequently than the public would prefer.
Until 1971, government employees enjoyed taking off Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12 and George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 22. But President Richard Nixon combined the two and created one federal holiday — President’s Day on the third Monday in February — a day to remember all past presidents.
However, Lincoln’s birthday is still recognized as a state holiday and, therefore, government employees are entitled to take the day off.
Santa Monica officials realized several years ago that giving employees yet another day off in February wasn’t good for customer service. City Hall negotiated with all of the unions representing 1,800 employees that Lincoln’s birthday should be observed some other time of the year.
While most of the unions agreed to convert Lincoln’s birthday into a “floating holiday,” there was one — the Municipal Employees Association — that didn’t agree to it. That’s because there are many employees who are regularly assigned to work on holidays, which means holiday pay, plus time and a half. Taking a floating holiday would mean those employees — like garbage men and other blue collar workers — wouldn’t get extra pay.
At the time, City Hall was forced to either pay MEA employees overtime and holiday pay to work on Feb. 12 every year, or reduce city staff by giving the majority of the MEA employees the day off with holiday pay. The result was staffing shortages, impaired customer service and overtime expenditures in City Hall. The MEA represents between 650 and 700 employees, and includes clerical workers, technicians and blue collar workers, said Karen Bancroft, director of Human Resources in City Hall.
But finally, this year, the MEA recognized the waning customer service and increased cost to City Hall. It agreed to change the way Lincoln’s birthday is handled. This year, employees who are regularly assigned to work on holidays will work today without losing overtime pay. Employees who aren’t required to work on holidays will work today and get a “floating holiday” at some point during the year.
“It’s better to give them a day off than to keep everyone on holiday pay,” said City Hall spokeswoman Judy Rambeau. “It’s less impact to the public because we’re trying to make sure we’re here and it’s a budget issue.”
The issue really became noticeable a few years ago when City Hall employees had five days off in a row. Every other Friday, City Hall is closed to cut down on car emissions by reducing car trips. So when that alternate Friday fell in between Lincoln’s birthday and President’s Day, city employees enjoyed an extended vacation.
“That really prompted us to look at this,” Bancroft said. “MEA finally recognized the need for public service.”
MEA’s agreement with City Hall is good for only this year — the bargaining unit’s contract will expire this spring and Bancroft hopes to negotiate the current agreement into the new contract.
So while the public may be observing Lincoln’s birthday today, some City Hall employees may be doing it in June or September.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 12, 2004. Read the original PDF.