Allegheny County proposes 18 weeks of parental leave
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The Allegheny County Health Department proposes to require employers in the county to provide 18 weeks of paid leave to new parents and legal guardians.
Why it matters: Pennsylvania does not have any parental leave laws, and Allegheny County would be the first county in the state to enact one.
Driving the news: The health department proposed the parental leave rule Wednesday evening to the county's Board of Health, as an amendment to its paid sick leave policy.
- Health director Iulia Vann said in a statement the rule is necessary to improve public health outcomes for county residents and address the region's poor maternal health record.
Zoom in: The rule would require paid parental leave to full- and part-time employees who have at least 30 days on the job, per the amendment.
- Leave must be taken within 12 months of birth, adoption or start of foster care.
- It could be taken intermittently or continuously and would be paid at one's full weekly pay rate.
Zoom out: Fourteen states and Washington, D.C. require employers to provide some form of paid parental leave.
By the numbers: About 42% of Allegheny County parents are currently offered paid parental leave through their employers, according to preliminary data of a survey being conducted by the county.
- Another 29% said they did not have a job, 25% took unpaid leave from their job and just under 4% took no leave.
What they're saying: "Recovery from childbirth is a medical necessity, and right now not enough people in Allegheny County have adequate access to appropriate paid leave," said Vann. "Healthier beginnings lead to healthier children, healthier parents, and ultimately healthier communities."
Between the lines: Vann said research shows paid parental leave improves maternal recovery and postpartum mental health.
- It also reduces infant hospitalizations by keeping infants out of public child care before they can receive immunizations.
Flashback: Allegheny County passed a paid sick leave ordinance in 2021 that was modeled after a Pittsburgh city ordinance that passed in 2015.
- That city ordinance was sued by the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, claiming the rule overstepped the city's municipal authority and would hurt businesses.
- In 2019, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the rule, supporting the argument that the rule would benefit public health.
What's next: The parental leave rule must pass the board, complete a 30-day public comment period, pass the board again, and then be approved by Allegheny County Council and County Executive Sara Innamorato.