Allegheny County's paid parental leave bill draws support, skepticism

Hinzugefügt: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Dozens of local parents, business owners, and others all weighing in tonight on a proposal to require paid parental leave for all employees in Alageney County. Thanks for joining us at 11. I'm Ken Rice. More than 80 people signed up to speak at a public hearing held tonight. KDK's Jennifer Baresso was there at that hearing and joins us with more. Jen >> Ken, this public comment lasted about three hours. Most supporters saying that 18 weeks of paid parental leave is desperately needed. Businesses, however, pushed back, saying this may crush them.

[00:00:39]It's a proposal that would impact every business in Alageney County. The health department wants every employer to offer 18 weeks of paid parental leave.

[00:00:49]Supporters say every parent should have access because it brings financial and economic stability. I am here uh to ask you to support paid family leave. Um this need is going to help everyone. Um the United Nations actually recommends 24 weeks. So this uh doesn't even uh meet international standards, but it's a step in the right direction.

[00:01:11]>> No parent should have to choose between caring for their newborn and keeping a roof over their head.

[00:01:16]>> Under the proposal, employees would be eligible 30 days after starting their jobs. It would apply to all employees in the county for births, adoptions, and legal permanent placements within the first 12 months of a child's life. And it means all employers in Alageney County. County Executive Sarah Ina Marado says now is the time to act. What happens if we don't have paid parental leave?

[00:01:41]First of all, we lose women in the workforce in Alageney County. We are tired of waiting for solutions. We need help and we need it now.

[00:01:52]>> Some local business owners push back saying they shouldn't have to pay for this.

[00:01:56]>> This isn't a a public health problem.

[00:01:58]It's a math problem and the math simply does not add up. For many of these small businesses are buy on very very small margins.

[00:02:06]>> As a small v business business owner, I don't have the money in the bank just to cover it. And I will tell you that there is a compromise. Can the government help us with having someone come in if someone goes on parental leave to cover that ratio and that shift?

[00:02:22]>> I work for a nonprofit. We do a lot of, you know, things with hospital, daycare.

[00:02:27]We're I mean, this would be incredibly burdensome. Um, if this does pass, I think preemptive layoffs could occur.

[00:02:35]Businesses will relocate to other counties. Um, staffing will be cut.

[00:02:40]>> You can still speak out. The public comment period ends June 16th at 11:59 p.m. The health board, I'm told, may vote on this as early as July. And next, the county council would have to vote on it. Reporting in downtown Pittsburgh, Jennifer Baraso, KDK TV News.