A proposal that would provide City employees six weeks of paid parental leave was outlined by City officials on Thursday. If approved, Lincoln would be the first City in Nebraska to provide paid leave for new parents.
“This proposed paid parental leave policy offers a new benefit to our employees and cascading benefits to their families and our broader community,” says Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “Providing new parents with paid leave contributes to healthy child development, improves maternal health, supports a partner or father’s involvement in childcare and reinforces families’ economic security.”
She says the City will also be in an even stronger position to compete for top talent who deliver high-quality services to the community.
Lincoln-Lancaster County Human Resources Director Barb McIntyre says under the provisions of the policy non union, full time, part time, probationary and regular employees that are regularly scheduled to work 20 at least hours a week will be eligible. Employees would receive six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child with part-time employees receiving a prorated number of hours.
“When our employees and their families are supported, they perform at their best,” McIntyre says. “Paid parental leave helps new parents stay in the workforce by allowing them time to make adjustments to balance caregiver and work responsibilities, while improving their household economic security in the critical year following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.”