Putnam County commissioners reject proposal to add three wellness days for employees

The Putnam County Board of Commissioners voted down a proposal to add three paid wellness days to the county personnel manual on Dec. 5, 2025.

Human Resources Director Miller told commissioners that physical and mental health are closely linked and that providing three wellness days would not increase the county’s budget. Several residents raised questions during public comment about how wellness days would differ from vacation, why three days were proposed and why the days could not be used in September.

Commissioner Richard Garrett moved to approve the change with an amendment directing staff to explore a productivity metric to measure impact; Commissioner Tom McElhenney seconded. The motion failed on a 1–2 vote (Yea: Commissioner Garrett; Nay: Commissioner McElhenney, Commissioner Hersey). No further action was taken on the personnel manual at the meeting.

The item will remain on the board’s record as discussed but not adopted; staff did not present a budgetary increase tied to the proposal and no effective date or implementation plan was approved.