Changes made to Allegheny County’s paid parental leave proposal
PITTSBURGH —
The Allegheny County Board of Health is making some major changes to its proposal for paid parental leave.
Several changes were announced Wednesday, following months of public feedback.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
The revised proposal includes:
Decreasing mandated paid time off from 18 weeks to 12 weeksFull-time workers must be employed at least six months to qualify, or 625 hours logged for part-timeOnly employers with 15 or more full-time or part-time employees would be required to comply
Provisions for stillbirths and a timeline for policy implementation were also added.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
If the board votes in favor of the new policy, it would need to go before Allegheny County Council for a vote. If approved by council, the bill then moves on to County Executive Sara Innamorato to be signed. The Board of Health will vote during a special meeting on September 28.
“It’s important to remember that today is not a final decision, but an opportunity to share the revised proposal which reflects community input,” Dr. Iulia Vann, director of the county Health Department, said in a statement. “With today’s comments, the Board of Health can now reflect further on the paid parental leave proposal.”
DEBATE OVER PAID LEAVE PROPOSAL
Supporters of the original proposal have not changed their stance.
“People don’t realize how much time is needed. Twelve weeks can go by like that. Eighteen weeks can also go by like that, but it gives you more time to recuperate in case there’s any type of complication, to bond, and really just take care of yourself,” said Mashell Terney, a member of Mother Forward.
Businesses opposing the policy have also maintained their position.
In a statement, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development said, “The core structure of the policy remains problematic. Mandating a 100% employer-paid requirement—rather than utilizing a state-level, insurance-based funding model common in other jurisdictions—places an uncompetitive financial and administrative burden directly on local employers.”
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