Walworth County’s Human Resources Committee on May 20 approved an amendment to the county code clarifying how short-term disability and accrued paid time interact for employee leaves, including pregnancy and maternity leave.

County staff said the revision to the ordinance (agenda listed the code section with a typographical error; the packet reflects the correct amendment to section 15 07:30 of the Walworth County Code of Ordinances) is intended to close a gap that previously left some employees without pay after short-term disability benefits ended. Josh Pollock, who gave the committee an overview, said the change "is clearing up how we process this." He explained: "The idea is that short term disability is gonna pay somebody for the entire length of their leave, which for most leaves, the maximum is 12 weeks. But the maximum that you can get paid for pregnancy or maternity leave… short term disability will pay you for 6 to 8 weeks, but then you've still got another 4 weeks left until the end of your leave. The original ordinance stated that you couldn't use any paid time until you returned. So that left people that were out for maternity, with a gap without pay."

Under the amended language, employees may use their accrued paid time for the remainder of their leave so they receive pay throughout the leave period. Staff characterized the change as a cleanup to align the administrative process with typical leave lengths; packet materials and the draft ordinance were provided on pages 7–9.

Committee members moved and approved the ordinance amendment by voice vote.

The committee did not change leave maximums or the short-term disability benefit itself; the amendment only clarifies use of accrued paid time during the remainder of an approved leave.