Park County adopts paid parental leave for county employees

Park County commissioners voted May 12, 2026, to adopt a resolution establishing a paid parental leave policy for county employees, approving leave of two or four weeks depending on employee tenure.

HR director Maritza told the board the proposed policy would offer two weeks or four weeks of leave ‘‘based on employee service with the county,’’ and that leave must be used within six months and may not be transferred, framing the change as a retention and wellness measure. ‘‘The time following the arrival of a new child is brief, but it is a critical window for bonding and recovery,’’ Maritza said.

Multiple county staff and members of the sheriff’s office spoke in favor during public comment. A sheriff’s deputy said the benefit ‘‘is nothing but a benefit’’ for employees and would not harm the budget, adding that it would help deputies manage family care and recovery without exhausting sick or vacation time. The union president for the sheriff’s office read a letter urging the change, citing recruitment and retention concerns and saying many local workers lack paid leave: ‘‘This will reduce employee turnover rates and foster an environment of trust and appreciation within the workplace,’’ the letter said.

Commissioners discussed parity with nearby employers and a tier for very new employees before moving the resolution forward; the board approved the measure by voice vote. The resolution’s text adopted at the meeting sets the two- and four-week tiers and the six-month use window; implementation details and administrative processing will be handled by HR under the adopted policy.