Governor won’t give state workers extra day off

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is ending a holiday tradition this year: Giving state workers an extra day off.

A spokeswoman for Scott said Tuesday that the governor will not be closing state offices an additional day around the Christmas holiday. Scott for five straight years had ordered state offices to be closed an extra day in recognition of the hard work of state employees.

Three times Scott had given state workers Christmas Eve off when it fell on a weekday. Employees had the day after Christmas off in 2014, and in 2011 state employees received Dec. 23 off since Christmas Eve fell on a weekend.

Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, so the observed holiday is Dec. 26. In the past, state workers who perform essential functions still have to work. But state offices aren’t open.