From Deseret News archives:
Rocky nixes free U. hour
Based in part on concerns raised by the Utah Taxpayers Association and city residents, the mayor's office said Thursday that employees will have to use personal time, vacation time or work through two lunches if they want to leave the office at 3 p.m. to celebrate Utah Day a pregame bash ahead of the University of Utah football team's opening game with Texas A&M.
The mayor's office had previously said "nonessential" employees could take off two hours early if they worked through one lunch and wore red, giving them essentially an hour of paid free time.
"It became clear that the original concept of letting employees off at 3 if they missed lunch wasn't going to work because there'd still be an hour that sort of would have been a free hour," Mayor Rocky Anderson's spokeswoman Deeda Seed said.
Taxpayers Association vice president Mike Jerman applauded the move.
Seed said there were also equity concerns that some employees, who might not work 9 to 5, wouldn't get the free hour while others would.
Seed said the equity issue and the idea of taxpayers subsidizing an hour of work didn't sit well with Anderson.
"He certainly understood the Utah Taxpayers Association's argument, and he absolutely believes in responsible government," she said.
The offer to take off work early on Utah Day only applies to nonessential employees, Seed said. Department supervisors will have to determine whether an employee is considered nonessential.
From 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, essential employees that interact with the public will have to remain at City Hall and at other city offices to handle the public's business, Seed said.
The Utah Day festivities begin at 2 p.m. and end at kickoff time 5:30 p.m. The activities will take place at the Salt Lake City Sport Complex just south of Rice-Eccles Stadium on Guardsman Way.
E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com
Comments
- NFL: Week 12 recap 12:50 a.m.
- '12 Days' bill would top $87K 12:35 a.m.
- Study finds autism therapy works 12:35 a.m.
- Boy shot following traffic stop 12:35 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:24 a.m.
- Herbert builds his team of rivals 12:21 a.m.
- Corroon a step closer to governor 12:21 a.m.
- Monday on TV 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: East, West and religion 12:17 a.m.
- A deficit commission? 12:17 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
869 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
145 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
68 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...
None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...
Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...
Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...
How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...
90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...
This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.
Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...
Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...
Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...



You can be the first to comment on this story.