Innamorato is advocating for all county employers to give employees 18 weeks of paid time off after having a child. The proposal has become controversial.
On Tuesday, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced that she is pregnant and renewed her push for 18 weeks of paid parental leave.
“I will be so disappointed in myself as the first county executive who will give birth in office to not be able to provide parental leave for other families who are struggling every day and just want that time to recover and to bond and to build their family,” Innamorato said in her address to county council.
Her proposal would require all county employers to give employees 18 weeks of paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child. She introduced the proposal in May.
The plan received strong support from healthcare workers, caregivers, and child advocates. Business owners across Allegheny County pushed back, arguing that the policy would create an unfair cost burden on businesses.
Allegheny County currently offers its employees 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The policy was established during Innamorato’s term.
“As a county employee, I plan on taking my time off. That’s what’s going to be best for me, for my son, and for my family,” Innamorato said.
“That’s what people in Allegheny County deserve. They deserve that attention to family. They deserve that worker protection,” she added.
Her calls for 18 weeks of paid leave coincided with her announcement of her own pregnancy.
If her proposal is passed, Allegheny County would be the first in Pennsylvania to mandate paid parental leave for employees.
Innamorato cited evidence that the policy would not hurt businesses and referred to the proposal as a “net positive measure.” In reality, business owners are growing concerned about the impact the policy could have.
The county Health Department is accepting feedback on the proposal through Thursday at 11:59 p.m.
A final vote on the policy is expected to take place in the fall.
