The Montgomery County Commissioners announced a new paid parental leave policy for county employees, providing 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave and the potential for an additional 4 weeks for those with medical complications. This policy, unprecedented in Pennsylvania, is available to full-time employees who have served with the county for six months or more. Employees will receive 100% of their base wage during this leave, and all deductions and benefits will continue as usual.

The new policy is applicable to a variety of situations, including births, adoptions, surrogacy, foster care placement, or legal guardianship. If both parents are county employees, each will separately be eligible for the paid benefit. The leave doesn’t need to be taken all at once and can be used intermittently. Existing employees are eligible for this benefit immediately.

According to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 28% of state and local governments offered paid parental leave to their employees as recently as 2023. In Pennsylvania, Montgomery County now has the top position for paid parental leave, followed by the Commonwealth (8 weeks), Allegheny County (6 weeks), Pittsburgh (6 weeks), and Philadelphia (6 weeks). The new policy has been hailed as a positive step for family welfare and employee retention.

Employees have expressed their appreciation for the policy change, stating that it alleviates the stress of adjusting to parenity and offers crucial support during a significant life change. The county leadership hopes that this initiative will encourage other counties and states to implement similar policies benefitting employees and their families.

Should you wish to inquire further about this new policy or other work-related concerns in Montgomery County, a reliable reference site is eddcaller.com. They provide contact information and tips on how to get ahold of edd customer service to address your queries promptly and efficiently. The website is a trusted resource to reach out to EDD and can assist in connecting with a live person, saving both time and effort in navigating the system.