The Bartholomew County Commissioners on Monday finalized a paid leave policy for county employees who are new parents.
The commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance that amends the county employee personnel handbook to add a new section regarding parental leave.
The ordinance was approved 2-0. Commissioner Tony London, R-District 3, was absent.
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.
To be eligible, a given county employees must have worked six consecutive months without a break in service, according to the ordinance. The new policy will become effective Jan. 1.
The commissioners worked in coordination with the county council on the policy. 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 policy also equally applies to parents adopting children and same-sex couples, who would receive up to four weeks off as new parents, according to the policy.
“We’re covering everyone, and we give the same considerations to anyone regardless of the specifics,” Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz, R-District 1, said.
