Parental leave proponents make case to Houston commission

A group advocating for a parental leave benefit for local government employees is making its case to the Houston County Commission.

Three women from a coalition promoting the benefit spoke to the commission at Tuesday’s meeting. Amber Schmidtke asked the board to consider the same plan approved by Warner Robins City Council and the Macon-Bibb County Commission.

The plan calls for four weeks of paid maternity leave, one week of paternity leave and one week of leave for newly adoptive parents. Currently women would have to take sick leave, vacation or unpaid family leave to have a baby. Schmidtke said that a woman would have to work for the county for 18 months before building up enough sick leave to take the recommended six weeks of leave for birth.

Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said the board would consider the proposal, but he also said that there is a fairness issue with it. He said new employees could have a serious medical issue and be in the same situation. He said the board considers exceptions in special circumstances when an employee needs additional sick leave.

“I don’t think we have ever turned down any employee who has a huge need,” he said.

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Parental leave proponents make case to Houston commission."