The Village of Newburgh Heights, enacted one of the most generous parental leave policy of any municipality in the nation. The working class community near Cleveland is home to about 2,500 residents. Passed in May of this year, the policy makes full-time public employees eligible for six months of paid parental leave after the birth of a child.
Mayor Trevor Elkins drafted the policy from his experience after the birth of his first child and felt that while his family had options, many others do not have the ability to take time off to take care of their families.
“We’re not an affluent community, and we don’t have deep pockets. A $40,000 impact on us, you know, is substantial. I mean, it’s a large number. But it sends the message that, listen, our employees, we care about your time with your family. And I don’t know that you can put a price tag on that.” says, Elkins, in an interview wit NPR last May.
Elkins believes the policy sends a message that the Village values family and work-life balance and that will pay off in the long term to attract good employees. The Village sets an example for others in the public and private sector that taking care of your employees is a value worth investing in.
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