Allegheny County considers 18 weeks of paid parental leave amid debate
PITTSBURGH —
Allegheny County Council’s Committee on Health held a public hearing Thursday to discuss the Board of Health’s proposal for 18 weeks of paid parental leave, a topic that has sparked debate among small business owners and advocates.
“It shouldn’t be a radical idea to think that we should be providing families with the most important time in their lives when they decide to expand their family,” said Ashley Comans, board chair of Catapult Greater Pittsburgh.
Comans acknowledged the challenges but stressed the feasibility of implementing paid parental leave.
“It is possible,” Comans said. “I didn’t say ‘easy,’ but it’s possible, and people having the will to adjust to make it happen is probably more of a conversation we need to have versus it just can’t be done.”
Comans noted that her small nonprofit already offers paid parental leave to employees. She highlighted the urgency of the issue in Allegheny County, citing studies that show the area is one of the deadliest places in the U.S. for Black women to give birth.
“It’s one of the worst places for Black women to birth a child. To know that Black women and babies are three times more likely to die from wanting to create life should be unacceptable,” Comans said.
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Recently, UPMC announced it will increase paid parental leave to four weeks starting in January for all employees who receive benefits. The health system stated that paid parental leave, combined with other benefits like short-term disability and paid time off, can exceed 14 weeks.
Comans called UPMC’s move a step in the right direction but argued that more needs to be done.
“If four weeks was enough, the data wouldn’t show that 18 weeks is actually ideal,” Comans said.
Some UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital nurses planned to attend Thursday’s hearing at the county courthouse, with the nurses and their union stating that while UPMC’s action is a positive step, four weeks of paid parental leave is insufficient.
The public comment period for this proposal is now closed, and the resolution will move to the county council for consideration.
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