Little offers state employees paid time off if they get vaccine

Gov. Brad Little said the state is offering its employees a new benefit: four hours of paid leave if they have received or choose to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine!

"The new benefit comes at no additional cost to Idaho taxpayers," Little wrote on his Facebook page.

He said he encourages private employers to consider offering their employees the same benefit.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is our best tool to protect jobs, strengthen our workforce, and save lives," Little wrote Wednesday.

Lt. Gov. Janis McGeachin, seeking the nomination for Idaho governor in the Republican primary in 2022, was critical of the move in a tweet Thursday morning.

"Brad wants you to believe that giving state employees paid time off won't cost taxpayers any money, but this simply isn't true," she wrote. "State employees are paid by taxpayers. The real question is why is he spending taxpayer money to interfere in people's personal health decisions?