LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of County Commissioners deliberated Tuesday on a proposal to provide an additional eight hours of personal time off (PTO) for county employees but ultimately decided not to move forward with the change.
Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II initiated the discussion, emphasizing the importance of allowing county employees to observe religious or personal holidays not currently recognized in the county’s holiday schedule.
“This was an attempt to accommodate individual employees and ensure equity,” Collins said. “If it can be done within our current system, I’m fine with that. But I want to make sure all employees have the option to take time off for their personal celebrations.”
Acting Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services Jacob Dyer explained that current PTO allocations range from 30 to 36 hours per year, depending on employees’ work schedules.
One of the key concerns raised was the financial impact on county operations, particularly for emergency services personnel. Dyer noted that additional leave could necessitate overtime pay for paramedics and EMTs to maintain coverage.
“If an EMT takes an extra day off, someone has to step in to cover that shift,” Dyer said. “That could result in overtime costs.”
The estimated financial impact of the proposed PTO increase included:
- Additional leave payout when employees leave county employment: $26,400
- Overtime impact on Emergency Services: $113,600
- Total estimated cost (Salary & Fringe): $140,000
Commissioner B.J. Bowling expressed concerns about the broader economic climate and the optics of granting additional leave while private-sector employees are facing job losses.
“I respect that people celebrate different holidays, but we have to be mindful of the financial implications,” Bowling said. “I want to ensure we are being sensitive to the current economic conditions.”
Following a lengthy discussion, the board decided not to approve the additional eight hours of PTO at this time. Instead, commissioners agreed to revisit the issue during budget discussions.
The county currently offers 20 paid holidays, and full-time employees receive between 30 and 36 hours of PTO annually, depending on their scheduled work hours. PTO must be used within the calendar year and does not carry over.
As the meeting concluded, Collins reiterated his intent behind the proposal.
“This was about giving employees the liberty to celebrate what they choose,” he said. “I appreciate the discussion and hope we can continue to explore ways to support our workforce.”
Watch the Feb. 25, 2025, meeting here.
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20 paid holidays off, plus 4 to 5 PTO days plus their regular vacation days and sick leave is a pretty generous benefits package in my humble opinion. Our taxes are high enough in this county and the extraordinary burden for additional time off, in salaries paid for non productive work, overtime, and short staffing is certainly not worth giving employees these added incentive benefits. What on earth are some of our commissioners thinking???