Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parental Leave topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Farmington council adopts paid parental leave policy
Summary
Farmington’s City Council unanimously adopted a parental leave policy that provides up to four weeks of fully paid parental leave plus an additional four-week supplemental post-partum recovery leave tied to Short-term Disability Insurance, intended to preserve full pay during that recovery period.
The Farmington City Council on March 3 adopted a new parental leave policy that provides up to four weeks of paid parental leave to parents by city employment status and an additional up-to-four-week supplemental post-partum recovery leave tied to Short-term Disability Insurance (SDI), allowing employees to receive full pay during that supplemental period.
City Attorney Paul Roberts presented the policy at both a work session and the regular meeting, saying the proposal would give four weeks of fully paid parental leave for new parents and that SDI—currently provided by the City—pays 70 percent of pre-disability earnings. "The city’s supplemental leave provides 30 percent of the employee’s pre-disability salary for the four weeks of approved leave," Roberts said, so combined with SDI an eligible employee would maintain full compensation for that period. Roberts also noted that short-term disability rules and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections remain separate: FMLA provides unpaid, job-protected leave up to 12 weeks but is not a paid benefit.
Supporters at the dais said the change is intended to improve Farmington’s competitiveness in recruiting and retaining staff. Councilmember Melissa Layton moved to adopt the resolution creating parental leave and supplemental post-partum recovery leave; Mayor Pro Tempore Amy Shumway seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The adopted policy is gender-neutral and applies to employees who have added a child by birth or adoption; eligible employees who added a child in the prior 12 months may access the benefit until the 12-month anniversary of the birth or adoption. The policy also clarifies that employees may continue to use vacation and sick leave once the paid parental and supplemental recovery leave are exhausted. City staff outlined limits including rolling-year maximums and some exclusions for certain adoption circumstances.
Votes at a glance: the council recorded the parental leave resolution as adopted (motion by Councilmember Melissa Layton, seconded by Amy Shumway; recorded votes indicated unanimous approval by the councilmembers recorded on the motion).
The change takes effect immediately according to the resolution language presented at the meeting; staff will incorporate the new policy into city personnel materials.
