Health agency makes no decision on Juneteenth holiday for 2023

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency has almost another year to consider making Juneteenth a holiday for its employees.

The agency did not give employees off the new federal holiday. It did not follow the Michigan state or court holiday calendar last week declaring Monday an employee holiday.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved black Americans. The black community has celebrated the date since 1865. It is also often observed to celebrate African-American culture.

In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. Juneteenth joined 11 other holidays recognized by the federal government. All federal government offices are closed, and employees receive a day off. There is no mail, and national banking services are closed.

At its June board meeting, the health agency board did not consider adding Veterans Day and general election day every other year as a holiday. All three are days off for state employees.

The health agency allows paid time-off for only 11 of the 14 recognized by the state.

Hillsdale County Commissioner Brent Leininger said the agency is not a state agency. It operates under a joint agreement between the three counties.

"Our funding comes from the citizens. I think we need to work, and at the same time (employees), need to work. It's not being prudent of taxpayer funding information," he said.

Health agency boards met on the Juneteenth holiday.

Branch County declared it a holiday for this year and 2023 because the Michigan Supreme Court declared it a holiday and closed courts. More than 80% of Branch County business in the courthouse relates to court work.

Hillsdale County commissioner Mark Wiley said, "Hillsdale is going to address it year by year. Whether we do it next year is totally up in the air." Hillsdale closed offices in a 3-2 vote.

In St. Joseph County courts, related offices closed. Others opened. Commissioner Kathy Pangle said she thought only six employees did not take a vacation day since it was not a paid day off. She was not ready to add the paid holiday.

Leininger said it is not a state holiday, since the legislature did not act on it.

The Governor declared it a holiday after the new state union contract granted it as a holiday for union employees covered in the agreement.

None of the six commissioners on the health agency board were ready to tackle giving employees Juneteenth as a holiday. None were prepared to declare general election day as a holiday.

One holiday might give health agency employees a 12th paid day off. Wiley said, "I was a little surprised that Veterans Day wasn't part of the agency's holidays. So if I were going to add anything, I would add Veterans Day."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Health agency makes no decision on Juneteenth holiday for 2023