AdvertisementMany state workers accumulate large balances of unused vacation after decades of being on the government payroll. Williamson, however, amassed 462 hours of unused leave in less than two years on the job. The state paid $453 million in unused leave benefits to state workers in 2025. For example, the state paid 16 state workers more than $250,000 for unused time off in 2010, and 309 employees were paid more than $100,000. State employees have argued that under-staffing at state agencies can make it difficult to take vacations.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 16, 2026 16:01 UTC