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Confusing date no holiday for many workers

Presidents Day taken at many different times

BY JENNY SHEARER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jshearer@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Feb 16 2008 9:20 PM

Last Updated: Saturday, Feb 16 2008 10:27 PM

How some of us observe honoring our nation's presidents depends where we work and what we do.

Monday is Presidents Day, but some took a day off Feb. 12, for Lincoln's Birthday, or even Feb. 15. Or not at all. Kern County Superior Court was closed Tuesday, and people were turned away unless they had business with probation, which was open.

The state Legislature sets the court's holiday schedule, said Terry McNally, the court's executive officer.

There are days in which the court is closed but the county, which employs district attorneys and public defenders, is open.

McNally has heard positive things from the county when this happens because those days are used for training.

The court will be closed Monday, and so will county and city offices. But police, deputies and firefighters will be at work.

Cal State Bakersfield defers the holiday so classes aren't interrupted.

"There are a certain number of days where classes must be in session each quarter," said Kathy Miller, university spokeswoman. "And some of those holidays, such as Presidents Day, are moved toward the end of the calendar."

Instead of having Monday off, Cal State rolls the holiday forward so the campus is closed Christmas Eve. Students and employees at Bakersfield College have a long weekend. Classes aren't usually held on Fridays, said Amber Chiang, college spokeswoman.

The Kern Community College District, which includes Bakersfield College, is one of several districts that were dark Friday. The others are Sierra Sands, Tehachapi and West Kern Community College, said Steve Talbot, communications manager for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

All county school districts are closed Monday.

In other industries, employees receive floating days to use at their discretion for observances that aren't official company holidays.

That's how it's done at Aera Energy LLC and State Farm Insurance.

"We felt it was easier that way," said Greg Sherlock, spokesman for State Farm's Bakersfield Operations Center, which employs about 1,000 people.

State Farm employees get three days per year to use as they wish.

"They have a voice," he said.