Janesville council adopts paid family and medical leave policy; city to notify employees

The Janesville council voted at its meeting to adopt a paid family and medical leave policy and the employee notice so the program can take effect Jan. 1.

City staff explained that the benefit is administered by the state and that employees must apply to the state for approval. "The employee has to apply for this with the state. The state has to approve it," a staff member told the council during the discussion. Staff walked the council through program limits: employees may take up to 12 weeks of medical leave and 12 weeks of family leave within a 12-month period, but the program caps combined leave at 20 weeks per year. Benefit payments are calculated by a state formula; staff noted the program's current maximum weekly payment is about $1,423.

The staff presentation clarified employer-side effects: employees must notify their employer when applying, the city will continue contributing to employee health insurance during approved leave, but employees do not accrue vacation or sick leave while on paid time under this policy. Jason Moran and Sarah Joe were cited by staff as having helped prepare the materials and the employee notice now before the council.

A council member moved to adopt the policy (referenced in the packet as Policy 7.22) and to approve the employee notice; another member seconded the motion. The motion passed on a voice vote. The record shows the council approved adoption and the staff-directed notice; the meeting transcript did not record individual roll-call tallies.

Why it matters: the change places Janesville employees under the state-run leave program, requires the city to distribute notices before Jan. 1, and alters accrual and payroll practices while employees are on approved leave.