By ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI | REAL CLEAR POLITICS
In yet another example of what we’ve dubbed “Club Fed” because of generous vacation, salary and other benefits in the agencies, the Department of Labor sent an email to employees outlining yet another perk of federal employment: three hours extra paid time off after early dismissal the Friday before ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day.”
While employees are off for “Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” a holiday first recognized by President Joe Biden in 2021 — the same day as Columbus Day — they were able to start the long weekend early the Friday before, according to an internal email that OpenTheBooks.com auditors reviewed.
It will mean another $2.3 million in tax dollars gone to paid time off piled atop an already-hefty list of observed holidays.
Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su made the announcement in an email in which she laments “deplorable and harmful aspects of colonialism” related to the existence of the United States.
According to public disclosures, 14,712 Department of Labor employees had $1.6 billion in salaries for FY 2022, not including benefits (which typically amount to about 30% of salary) or bonuses.
That amounts to an average salary of $109,030 a year. Three additional hours of paid time off for the entire department staff amounts to $2.3 million of lost productivity or opportunity cost for U.S. taxpayers.
The perk extends to employees who telework, allowing them to log off three hours early.
The extra time is added to the 11 federal holidays that employees enjoy throughout the year, including eight hours for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day. On average, federal workers also receive 13 sick days and 20 vacation days per year. That’s 44 days of paid time off each year.
“Federal employees already receive generous salaries and time off versus the private sector, all furnished by taxpayers,” OpenTheBooks.com Founder & CEO Adam Andrzejewski said. But the benefits of Club Fed seem to keep growing. This new holiday perk from the Department of Labor follows news that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has approved 115 additional hours of paid vacation time for his employees.”
The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.
This article was originally published by RealClearInvestigations and made available via RealClearWire.
You can’t be surprised.
Leftists will always spend other people’s money in order to make themselves look good.
The taxpayers should be outraged about this. They are paying salaries for people to not work. Not talking about established holidays, I am talking about giving people an extra three hours off, without asking the boss (taxpayer) if it is OK to spend that money in that way.
Let’s have a no tax week so all money earned is ours and not the thief’s in Washington .
It is astounding. Another perk I just learned about from a friend who has been commuting for free with a small group of fellow federal employees who work on base. This individual has a six figure salary but has not paid a penny for fuel or maintenance related to the daily commute to work. The commuter van is provided also.
‘https://www.commutewithenterprise.com/en/commuters/federal-employees.html
This is abused administrative leave used for political purposes. If challenged in court, there is a good chance it would be reversed, and the administration charged with an AntiDeficiency Act violation.
Or … he gave them an extra three hours off for Columbus Day! 😁
National holidays are designated by the United States Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103). Only Congress has the authority to create holidays for national institutions (including federally-owned properties), employees, and the District of Columbia. Even Biden’s little trick of renaming Columbus Day is illegal. They were emboldened renaming Mt. McKinley, but the USC didn’t prohibit that. This is fully illegal, and should be challenged.
What? Does that mean they actually worked 5 hours that day? I think that is 5 more hours than they are required to do when they are at their “job.”
Federal workers and teachers. The only professions were outcome does not determine income.
I think there is an anal salve that may help temporarily.
Yep, lets whip up everyone on here into a frenzy for a non-event. great work.
Only a dedicated leftist who worships at the altar of the All-Powerful-State would be OK with the government paying people to not work.
Count me in then.
For what it’s worth, most Federal employees perform less labor in three hours than a state employee does in one hour or a private sector employee does in fifteen minutes.
True.
On the bright side, think of the millions saved during the time they were off. More holidays would do much to mitigate the damages these public servants are capable of while serving the public by spending taxpayer money.
“In the wake of some of the most deplorable and harmful aspects of colonialism, Native people were resilient, and Tribal Nations and people continue to resist those destructive forces.” Hahaha…the proud and independent Native Americans, fighting off the destructive forces of colonialism such as: “Check out these federal government benefits, services, and protections specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, families, and communities.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Financial Assistance and Social Services provides cash assistance for food, clothing, shelter, childcare, and utilities. Additional services are available to help you find employment. Contact your BIA Regional Office to find a provider and apply for help. Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides foods to income-eligible households living on Indian reservations and to Native American households in designated areas near reservations or in Oklahoma.
FDPIR is an alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if you do not have easy access to SNAP offices or authorized food stores.
Households cannot receive SNAP benefits and FDPIR in the same month. Contact the Food and Nutrition Service Regional Office in your area for application information. Housing Improvement Program provides home repair, renovation, and new housing grants to low-income individuals living in approved tribal service areas.
Contact your BIA Regional Office to find a provider and apply for help. Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program provides loans for new construction, renovations, purchase of an existing home, or to refinance a mortgage. The loans can be used on and off native lands. Find participating states and counties across the U.S. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers tips to prepare for homeownership. The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides federal health services to American Indian and Alaska Natives.
IHS offers programs that specialize in maternal and child health, mental health, substance abuse, home health care, and nutrition. To receive IHS health care benefits, contact your local IHS facility. IHS health topics feature information on heart health, physical activity, diabetes, substance abuse, coronavirus, and more.
These topics are updated regularly and include helpful tips for American Indian and Alaska Natives. All American Indian and Alaska Natives that meet eligibility requirements can receive services provided by the state such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Visit the American Indian and Alaska Native category of benefits to view more programs you may be eligible for.” In a sense what the bureaucrat said is true…unearned charity destroys your sense of self worth and any motivation to better yourself through hard work. You end up as a government dependent stridently demanding things you haven’t earned that are paid for by the same non-Natives you’re heaping hate on while wearing divisive slogans such as “You’re living on native land” as you lobby your colonial overlords for exclusive rights to subsistence hunting and fishing. Destructive indeed.
“Ya gotta make payroll”-Bert Stedman.
How else ya gonna retain the best grifters money can buy?
Yeah. Someone has to divy up all the federal money pouring into Alaska. You ought to refuse it, send it back.
I’m sure our economy will badly miss the important and vital work these federal employees would have otherwise done. At least when federal employees vote in presidential elections as Alaskans their votes for Biden are overcome by votes from the rest of us.
The only bright spot is that the money is going to American citizens. Meanwhile, billions and billions go to Ukraine and soon Israel with no oversight with lots of skimming I presume. Pick your poison I guess.
The poison within is more dangerous than the poison without.
I doubt you have actually lived and worked in a village or on a res.
Me too.
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