What’s happening?
Up to 240 hours of paid leave—336 hours for firefighter employees on shift—would be given to parents for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. Eligibility requirements to receive leave would include employees having a full-time status and qualifying for the Family and Medical Leave Act, which specifies employment for at least one year is required.
“Employees who are married who are both employees would both get the entire amount, we would not penalize one employee,” Assistant City Manager Wayne Nero said during the presentation.
Other highlights associated with the proposed ordinance include city employees:
- Having no more than one qualifying event within a 12 month rolling period
- Using the leave within the first six months of the qualifying event
- Receiving intermittent use, per city manager or director approval
- Forfeiting unused hours
Put in perspective
The updated policy comes with the city of Georgetown recognizing its need to retain and recruit qualified employees while competing with surrounding cities already offering paid parental leave, according to city documents.
A survey conducted by the city’s human resources staff showed that Round Rock, Cedar Park and Leander do not currently offer parental leave, while Hutto, Pflugerville and Austin do.
Looking ahead
The estimated financial impact paid leave would have on the city is $288,000 annually, which was calculated under the assumption that 30 employees who average $40 per hour would use the full 240 benefit hours, according to city documents.
The first reading of the ordinance passed unanimously, but the item must return to council for a second vote for final approval.
