The Allegheny County Health Department announced Friday that it will extend the public comment period for a proposal that would require employers of all sizes to provide 18 weeks of paid parental leave to employees.
The Board of Health’s first public hearing on the issue June 2 drew dozens of residents and generated more than 500 written comments by the end of the meeting. The hearing featured passionate testimony from both supporters and opponents of the proposal, with audience members at times booing speakers and reacting loudly to remarks from the podium. The extension adds 30 days to the public comment period, bringing the total to 60 days.
The department said the extension is a “direct response to resident requests for more time to review the proposal and submit written comments for consideration,” according to a news release.
As proposed, the regulation would provide leave following the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child to both full- and part-time employees.
Healthcare workers, public health advocates and parents who spoke during the first hearing argued that paid parental leave is critical to the health and well-being of both infants and parents. Several speakers said the policy would give families essential time to bond with newborns and newly adopted children while allowing mothers adequate time to recover from childbirth.
Opponents, particularly small-business owners, expressed concerns about the financial burden of providing extended paid leave and questioned whether smaller employers would be able to absorb the costs of employees taking weeks away from work.
Abigail Gardner, a spokeswoman for Allegheny County, said the earliest the Board of Health could vote on the proposal would be September. Additional meetings where the proposal could be discussed may be scheduled before then.