Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workplace Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners question workplace child policy for health department; some express liability concerns
Summary
The commission reviewed a draft policy permitting employees to bring infants to certain county workplaces under written agreements. Several commissioners raised liability and exposure concerns and expressed opposition; staff said the draft came from another county and would be re-examined.
NEOSHO COUNTY, Kan. — County staff presented a draft workplace guideline that would permit certain employees to bring infants to county worksites under detailed consent and caregiver-agreement forms. Several commissioners expressed concern about liability and exposure risk and said they were not comfortable adopting such a policy for the county.
The draft policy was presented as a more thorough version of a practice that had occurred previously at the health department. It included specific attachments listing medical conditions that would preclude a child’s presence, a caregiver agreement, time limits, and a waiver releasing the county from liability. The draft also limited eligibility to a maximum of 120 days.
One commissioner said that, as a health department, the county faces unique exposure risks and that a signed waiver would not eliminate legal liability. Another commissioner said the policy raises equity and placement questions across county departments.
No formal adoption occurred. Commissioners asked staff to take the document back for further review. One commissioner said they were likely to oppose the policy in its current form; another said they needed time to review and consult with legal counsel.
Why it matters: the policy touches on workplace accommodations for breastfeeding or infant care, liability exposure in county workplaces and consistency of county-wide personnel practices. County staff said the draft had been adapted from another county’s policy and that some counties do allow similar arrangements.
Next steps: staff will follow up with legal counsel and bring any revised policy back to the commission for action; the draft was not adopted.
