Wayne County committee advances amendment to provide six weeks paid parental leave to commission employees

The Committee on Government Operations approved a resolution amending the legislative version of the benefit plan to offer paid parental leave to full-time Wayne County commission employees, county staff said.

Donna Wilson, the county's PHR director, told commissioners the Pay Parental Leave Act is intended to let parents remain at home with a new child or take additional medically necessary time after FMLA provisions are exhausted. "So the Pay Parental Leave Act is really a opportunity for families to have the opportunity," Wilson said, adding the leave applies to birth and adoption and does not distinguish by gender. Wilson confirmed the benefit would provide six weeks of paid leave.

The item was presented by Commissioner Bell and was folded into the agreement motion the commission used to approve items 5 through 10; the committee approved the amendment. The resolution applies to full-time commission employees and does not extend to contractors, staff said.

What comes next: HR will implement the benefit change for eligible commission employees and coordinate administrative details with payroll and benefits offices.