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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2015.10.07 - 22038MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #15258 BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13 IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OAKLAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES — RECEIVE SIX WEEKS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS women now comprise nearly half of the U.S. labor force at 46.8 percent as reported in the 2015 Status of Women in the States; and WHEREAS more than 60% of women with children under the age of 5 participate in the labor force, and yet, the United States remains the only developed country in the world, and the only high-income country, that does not offer paid parental leave; and WHEREAS only a handful of states in the U.S. require employers to have temporary disability programs, which pay benefits if the pregnancy is defined as a disability by a doctor; and WHEREAS the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave and women usually use a combination of short-term disability, sick leave, vacation, and personal days in order to have some portion of their maternity leave paid; and WHEREAS women today bear children later in life, continue to work during the childbearing years and they make important financial contributions to the household; and WHEREAS almost one third of women who reported taking maternity leave do not have any portion of their maternity leave paid as most cannot afford to lose income for an extended period of time; and WHEREAS parents have an overwhelming joy at the birth of a child or a newly adopted child, and it is a time for bonding between parents and a child that builds a loving and trusting lifelong relationship; and WHEREAS parental leave increases better prenatal and postnatal care, has a lifetime impact on a baby's mental and emotional health and lowers accident rates in the first year of life; and WHEREAS the lack of paid leave has numerous harmful consequences — fueling postpartum depression, mothers give up nursing early and it places a financial burden on the family; and WHEREAS the employers or companies that offer paid maternity leave, tend to attract better, dedicated employees. This results in higher productivity, increased career opportunities for women, higher incomes for women, decreased employee discrimination suits and a decrease in employee turnover; and WHEREAS according to the 2012 Family and Medical Leave Act survey, 35 percent of employees in the U.S. work for employers that offer paid maternity leave to all or most of their employees, including 39.5 percent in worksites covered by the FMLA, as well as, 26 percent in workplaces not formally covered by the FM LA; and WHEREAS California and New Jersey have had in place paid leave measures since 2004 and 2009 with positive results reported by both employers and employees; and WHEREAS in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, as of early 2015, approved paid parental leave for their full-time non-union employees at full salary for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a new child; and WHEREAS it is proposed that Oakland County extend six weeks of paid parental leave for full-time employees and for part-time employees pro-rate the parental leave to receive this benefit for the birth or adoption of a child; and WHEREAS Oakland County has 426 female employees at the child bearing age, with a total female workforce of 2,521, and offering paid parental leave will increase employee recruitment and retention, provide employees more flexibility and a stronger work/life balance, and continue Oakland County's recognition as an employer of choice; and WHEREAS Section IV, Subsection A of the Merit System Resolution requires that all changes in the rules and regulations of the Merit System shall be submitted to the Board of Commissioners at a regular meeting of the Board and shall become effective thirty (30) days after such meeting unless objection is received in writing by the Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners, in which case the objection shall become a matter of business at the next meeting of the Board; and WHEREAS amendments are required to the Oakland County Merit System Rules for the development and inclusion of six weeks paid parental leave for full-time employees and for part-time employees pro- rate the parental leave to receive this benefit for the birth or adoption of a child. NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby amend the Oakland County Merit System Rules for the development and inclusion of a six week Commissioner Marcia ershenson District #13 Commissloneri District* 2.0 dez-e-rt-6- Commissioner District* iY paid parental leave for full-time employees and for part-time employees pro-rate the parental leave to receive this benefit for the birth or adoption of a child. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby approves an amendment to the Oakland County Merit System Rules for the development and inclusion of a six week paid parental leave for full-time employees and for part-time employees pro-rate the parental leave to receive this benefit for the birth or adoption of a child. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Human Resources Department is directed to prepare formal implementation language to incorporate this new policy in the Merit System Rules for consideration by the Board of Commissioners within 30 days of the passage of this resolution. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution, Commissioner District* - Commissioner District 17=)- Commissioner Commissioner District District it Commissioner Commissioner District District Commissioner Commissioner District District Commissioner Commissioner District District Commissioner Commissioner District District Commissioner Commissioner District # District* Commissioner Commissioner District # District* Resolution #15258 October 7, 2015 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Human Resources Committee. There were no objections.