PITTSBURGH — Supporters of the proposed required parental paid leave held up signs in the County Courthouse that read “Parental Leave For All” during a rally ahead of the council’s vote on Tuesday.
Several spoke up about why they are advocates for the proposed mandate, including Lucy Rose Ruccio.
“Costs are rising, the world is getting harder and we deserve to be home with our children bonding when we are postpartum. No one should have to go back two weeks later to work because they’re afraid of losing a job or a paycheck,” Ruccio said.
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She just had her third child and told Channel 11 that she only receives two weeks of paid parental leave from UPMC as a nurse practitioner at Magee.
“I’m the primary earner in my household and not having my time paid is really detrimental for my family. It adds a lot of stress,” Ruccio said.
The proposal would require Allegheny County businesses with 15 or more employees to pay up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
To qualify for the leave, employees must have worked at the business for at least six months and logged more than 600 hours of service
It’s been a controversial proposal, with many small businesses saying it would cripple them.
A recent survey from the PA Chamber of Business showed that businesses expect to have a negative financial impact, higher costs, and reduced hiring.
But for Ruccio, it’s time she’ll never get back.
“It’s just the most important time in the world and you shouldn’t have to weigh that against paying for groceries,” Riccio said.
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