The Bartholomew County Commissioners on Monday took a step towards instituting a leave policy for county employees who are new parents.
The commissioners approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the county employee personnel policy to add a section regarding new parent leave.
Ordinances must be passed twice to be finalized. The commissioners will consider the ordinance on second reading during their next meeting on Sept. 22.
The policy states that all full-time county employees can take up to six weeks of paid leave if they are the birth parent. Full-time county employees who are not the birth parent are able to take up to four weeks of paid leave, the policy goes on to state.
The new policy, if finalized on second reading, will be effective for Jan. 1, 2026.
Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz, R-District 1, said he and the commissioners worked in coordination with the county council on the policy.
Commissioner Tony London, R-District 3, said he was “glad to see this happening.”
“It’s appropriate that we provide this to our employees It’s so important to the family for that bonding period,” London said. “Six weeks compared to some places is not much, but it’s better than we’ve ever had. Some private organizations give 12 weeks, give 20 weeks, and we don’t have the kind of money to do that.”
Currently, new parents who are county employees would use all of their sick leave time before going on unpaid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
The commissioners noted that the proposed policy would equally apply to parents who adopt children.
