Kids & Family
LA Considers 18 Weeks Of Full-Pay Parental Leave
Los Angeles leaders are considering a city program that would augment the state's parental leave to give new parents 18 months of full pay.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Two Los Angeles City Council members proposed Tuesday the creation of a parental leave policy which would allow new parents to take up to 18 weeks of fully paid leave without a reduction in pay.
Council members David Ryu and Nury Martinez said state law allows for up to 18 weeks of paid family leave, but only provides eligible employees with 60 to 70 percent of their wages up to a state maximum. The proposed city program would seek to augment the state's contribution via the existing State Disability Insurance and Paid Parental Leave programs to cover 100 percent of wages.
"We know in Los Angeles, 60 to 70 percent of your pay is not enough to pay the bills, let alone to start a family," Ryu said at a news conference at City Hall.
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The program would be paid by the employers, but could create an exemption or risk pool for small businesses and nonprofits, the council members said.
"By providing a full, paid parental leave, we are going to empower Los Angeles' hard-working mothers and fathers to be outstanding parents without fear that they are going to lose their job or lose a paycheck," Martinez said.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a six-month paid family leave policy, but the idea is still in the early stages and the governor is forming a task force on the topic.
"As for the governor, we very much applaud what the governor is doing, and we're very excited, and we're looking forward to what exactly his proposal will allow to, and we hope that they might augment each other and compliment each other," Ryu said.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he supported the proposal.
"Nearly every other country in the developed world guarantees paid family leave. If Washington refuses to step up for children and parents, cities like Los Angeles will -- because we know this is an essential investment in healthy families and a strong economy," Garcetti said. "I applaud Councilmembers Ryu and Martinez for leading the way, and look forward to working with them to make paid parental leave a reality for Angelenos."
City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock