Under the Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), all covered employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to care for, among others, a newborn child. Because of the unpaid nature of leave under FMLA, employees who do not have sufficient paid leave balances (whether sick leave or annual leave) cannot afford to avail themselves of this federally-mandated benefit.
Last year, Miami-Dade County enacted an ordinance providing paid parental leave to eligible employees welcoming a newborn, newly-adopted, or newly-placed foster child. Under the ordinance, eligible employees receive two weeks of fully-paid leave, two weeks at 75% pay, and two weeks at 50% pay.
Earlier this year, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners also authorized county staff to draft a paid parental leave policy similar to that of Miami-Dade County.
In April of this year, Broward County staff informed the Board that staff has been monitoring and evaluating these developments. This item directs staff to complete its evaluation and to report back to the Board in August for the Board to consider the drafting of an ordinance or policy to address these benefits.
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