South Bend Common Council members will consider the city’s first plan for paid parental leave.
The city of South Bend may institute new fully-paid parental leave, in addition to its already existing medical leave, to full-time city employees. The 6 weeks paid leave would be available to any qualified employee - male or female - designated as a primary caregiver. If both are city employees, both may still take off at the same time.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg says parental leave is not an issue that needs action at the congressional level and calls it a move more employers should be making.
The policy is subject to the approval of the administration’s 2018 budget.
The plan, unveiled Wednesday, would earmark more than 150 thousand dollars in the next fiscal year, and City Human Resources Director Kyra Clark say this is a conservative amount and the city can afford more if necessary.
The plan would also allow employees to break up the six weeks - into smaller increments - during a six-month period following a birth or adoption.