The Allegheny County Board of Health is set to vote Monday at noon on a proposed paid parental leave policy.
Under the proposal, covered employers with 15 or more eligible workers would be required to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
The board first introduced an initial version of the policy in May. Recent revisions reduced the proposed leave length from 18 weeks to 12 weeks while adding specific qualification criteria for employees. To qualify, workers must be employed for at least six months and log more than 600 hours of service.
The proposed policy has sparked public debate across the county since its introduction. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development opposes the measure, calling its core structure problematic and stating that it places a financial and administrative burden on local employers.
Supporters of the policy argue that the requirement provides families with vital time needed to care for and bond with a newborn.
If the Board of Health approves the proposal during Monday’s vote, the measure will advance to the Allegheny County Council for consideration later this fall.
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