Lake County has joined the state in passing a new policy to support employees who become new parents.
The Lake County Council on Tuesday created a new parental leave program for its employees, allowing mothers and fathers to take up to two weeks paid time off after a new baby is born or they’ve adopted a child. The parental leave program was proposed by Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, who saw it as a necessary step to help parents.
“I’m glad to see that we took that initiative and are moving forward with it,” Cid said.
The County Council’s move to start a parental leave program comes eight days after state employees began having access to a similar benefit.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in December signed an executive order giving state employees up to four weeks of paid leave, which started on Jan. 1.
“This new policy supports families and healthy kids by ensuring parents – both women and men – get the time they need to bond and adjust to a new baby or adopted child,” Holcomb, a Republican, said in a statement. “This policy sends a strong message to attract more top talent to state government.”
Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, was the sole dissenting vote Tuesday and said he didn’t think a parental leave program is right for the county.
“I just don’t support the male paternity part of this,” Strong said.
The parental leave program will benefit newborn children, Cid said, and give parents the time they need to care for the babies. Cid said she thought the county’s employees and all citizens should be able to take time to care for a newborn child as many people in the private sector already have that benefit.
“Their child is just as important as any child,” Cid said.
The new policy gives employees up to two weeks of parental leave. An initial proposal sought six weeks of paid paternity leave, but Cid’s fellow council members thought it was far too much time.
Cid introduced the paternity leave idea during the council’s budget deliberations in October. The council agreed to put $175,000 in the 2018 budget for the program.
Cid based the $175,000 on the number of newborns added to the county’s insurance program, which showed only 30 babies were added since 2015. A memo from the county’s insurer showed 17 in 2015, eight in 2016 and five as of October 2017.
Councilwoman Elsie Franklin, D-Gary, said some young families don’t have a second layer of support, but often don’t have the financial ability to stop working.
“In many cases the father is needed in that home,” Franklin said.
Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said the county can start the parental leave program and make adjustments as they are needed.
“I just think that change has to start somewhere,” Bilski said.
Strong said he thought the program will be too costly for the county and will have a negative effect.
“I believe there are many more things that need to be accomplished,” Strong said.
Councilman Jamal Washington, D-Merrillville, said he thought the parental leave program is a good start and a progressive move for the county.
“I believe this is a start in the right direction,” Washington said.
