More than 100,000 state workers will get three extra days off this year after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to give workers additional time off work.

The three days – December 23, 24 and 31 – come in addition to the normally scheduled Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays.

“Florida is in great shape and we want to reward our state workers,” DeSantis said in a statement. “After a full year – including three costly hurricanes – we hope these additional days off will allow state employees to spend more time with their families and loved ones this holiday season.”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy lecturer at the University of Tennessee at Martin, called DeSantis’ move a “welcome” change.

“The gesture of adding additional paid holidays to the calendar is always welcome, and Governor DeSantis’ decision to do so is certainly consistent with previous decisions by governors of other states,” Beene said Newsweek.

“For states that do not already recognize days like Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as state holidays, the expansion of holidays like this typically occurs when the state budget allows,” he said.

However, human resources consultant Bryan Driscoll called DeSantis’ move a “cheap political stunt” rather than a gesture of support for employees.

“He is trying to cover up years of anti-worker policies with a feel-good headline. This is like throwing crumbs to workers while gutting unions and eliminating job protections,” Driscoll said Newsweek.

While state employees will be able to enjoy some additional days off, the decision does not address some important issues, he said.

“This move does nothing to address the real issues facing Florida workers, such as the lack of paid family leave or protections for low-wage workers,” Driscoll said. “It reflects a government more interested in optics than substance, prioritizing political games over real, lasting change for the workforce.”

When DeSantis ran for the GOP presidential nomination, much of his campaign focused on how efficiently he managed the state’s small employee base, even though Florida is the third-most populous state.

“Florida state government has the lowest number of state employees per capita in the country,” DeSantis said in a CNN town hall in January.

In 2022, Florida employed 164,829 people, including full- and part-time employees. And while the national average was 198 state employees per 10,000 residents, Florida had only 82 state employees per 10,000 residents.

Beene said Florida’s financial situation looks good this year and many state employees may have worked longer hours than expected due to Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby, all of which made landfall in the Sunshine State.

“Government revenues are high, some employees have been working longer than expected due to multiple natural disasters, and with Christmas and New Year falling in the middle of the week, it is difficult for employees to spend additional time with their families who are able,” said he.