Allegheny County passes 12-week parental leave rule
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Allegheny County Council passed a law Tuesday night requiring employers with 15 or more workers to provide new parents and legal guardians with 12 weeks of paid leave.
Why it matters: Pennsylvania doesn't require private employers to offer paid parental leave, so Allegheny County's measure could significantly expand workplace benefits.
The big picture: The county is poised to become the first in the state to adopt such a law.
Context: The bill passed with an 11-4 vote.
- The original proposal called for all county employers to provide 18 weeks of parental leave, but the plan was scaled back after the county's health board received more than 1,500 public comments.
What they're saying: Councilman Jordan Botta (D-Lawrenceville), who runs the LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce Three Rivers Business Alliance, said concerns about businesses fleeing the county are overblown.
- "I am very confident the county will roll out this policy and not hurt businesses," he said. "It is going to protect working families in the way we had not in the past, and that's worth doing."
Councilman Pat Catena (D-Carnegie) voted against the plan and urged lawmakers to work with the state government to create a program that can fund parental leave for small businesses.
- "We actually have to consider the burden the mandate places. The small businesses, and the small nonprofits with 16-17 employees. The costs don't disappear," said Catena.
Zoom in: Full- and part-time employees qualify after working for their employer for at least six months and logging 625 hours.
- Nearly half of Allegheny County businesses have 10 or fewer employees, according to county health director Iulia Vann.
Zoom out: Fourteen states require employers to provide some form of paid parental leave. Washington, D.C.'s parental leave policy — like Allegheny County's — mandates businesses fund the program.
State of play: About 59% of submitted public comments supported the policy.
- Dozens of people spoke in approval of parental leave during Tuesday's meeting, with a handful opposed.
- Proponents said research shows paid parental leave improves maternal recovery, postpartum mental health, and reduces infant hospitalizations.
Qualifying employers have one year to implement the requirements.
The other side: Business groups like the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association say the requirements put too much burden on business owners.
- The Employment Policies Institute estimates the law will cost Allegheny County businesses $300 million in annual expenses and up to 1,500 jobs.
Between the lines: The new parental leave requirement could face a legal challenge, said councilman Aaron Adams (D-Duquesne), and he urged the state legislature to pass something statewide.
What's next: Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato will sign the bill Thursday, per her office.
- "Together, we can make Allegheny County the best place to raise a family and grow our economy by embracing policies like this one that deliver shared prosperity and better health for all," said Innamorato in a statement.