Thousands of state employees in NC to get Juneteenth or another floating holiday off
Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, became a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth Independence Day has been adopted by several states, but North Carolina has not yet made it a paid holiday for state employees.
That’s changing for thousands of state workers under the executive branch, and maybe more.
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, signed an executive order on Monday designating an additional paid holiday for state employees in the agencies that report to him through his Cabinet. They will be able to take off Juneteenth or another day of their choosing that recognizes “cultural, religious or personal significance.”
The federal Juneteenth holiday will be observed this year on Monday, June 20. The holiday itself is June 19, and marks the day in 1865, two months after the Civil War ended, when freedom of enslaved people reached Galveston Bay, Texas with an announcement by U.S. troops, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 freed people who were enslaved, but it was not yet fully abolished in Confederate states. The 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was ratified in December 1865.
In Cooper’s order, he “encourages residents to observe Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect, rejoice, and plan for a brighter future as we continue to address racial injustices in our society.”
What employees should know
▪ Eligible state employees can use eight hours of personal observance leave for Juneteenth or another day, “without any questioning of whether an employee’s identification of a particular day for Personal Observance Leave is sincere and legitimate,” according to the order.
▪ While Cooper’s order only applies to Cabinet agencies under his jurisdiction, he encouraged other state agencies to adopt the additional leave day as well.
▪ Eligible employees under the policy that starts as of June 16 are full-time or at least half-time workers under Cabinet agencies and the Governor’s Office. Part-time employees’ leave is prorated.
▪ Leave must be used by Dec. 31.
▪ Most state employees already get 12 paid holidays a year.
Cooper’s order leads off by saying it is celebrating a diverse workforce and is committed to making North Carolina state government “a competitive employer, capable of recruiting, retaining, and supporting top talent.”
There is a 20% vacancy rate statewide for state government jobs, The News & Observer previously reported.
For more North Carolina government and politics news, listen to the Under the Dome politics podcast from The News & Observer and the NC Insider. You can find it at https://campsite.bio/underthedome or wherever you get your podcasts.
This story was originally published June 6, 2022 at 4:32 PM.
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