Kaine gives state workers 8 extra hours for holidays

With all the budget cuts and layoffs to Virginia's state government, there hasn't been much Christmas cheer to go around.

So Gov. Timothy M. Kaine played Santa Claus:

He gave the state's 100,000 employees the equivalent of an extra day off.

The time -- eight hours -- is split into a four-hour increment on Christmas Eve and another on New Year's Eve, according to the Dec. 18 memo sent to state workers.

State employees already had an abbreviated four-hour workday scheduled for yesterday, so the additional time effectively gives them a full day off. A full work day had been planned for Dec. 31, but state offices will now close at 1 p.m.

The news came in an e-mail to all state employees last Thursday from Kaine Chief of Staff Wayne M. Turnage.

"This year has presented many challenges," it begins. "Nonetheless, you and your colleagues across the state have accomplished much and the benefits of your hard work continue to accrue to the Commonwealth.

"In recognition of your dedication and hard work during these difficult times, I am pleased to announce that Governor Kaine has approved an additional eight hours of time off for state employees during the upcoming holiday season," the memo states.

Virginia has been anything but Scrooge-like with its work force this holiday season. In addition to the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays, state employees already have off the Fridays after both holidays -- Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

There were no immediate figures available on the productivity cost of the extra time off.
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or