On Oct. 2, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a proposal for the city to offer paid parental leave to municipal employees, which could create a new benefit for tens of thousands of full-time city workers who are ineligible for paid parental leave from the state.

“Family is everything, and parents shouldn’t have to rely only on sick or vacation days when it’s time to bond with their children,” Garcetti said. “We look at everything we do through a gender equity lens, and paid parental leave will empower women in the workplace, help moms and dads care for their kids, and support city workers in a way that helps them better serve the public.”

The mayor’s proposal, which was presented to the City Council on Oct. 2 and will be negotiated with employee representatives before implementation, will provide up to six weeks of fully paid parental leave for a city employee following the birth, adoption or long-term foster care placement of a child. Under the proposal, paid parental leave would first be available to non-sworn employees – a majority of the city’s workforce – and subsequently extended to fire and police personnel.

A motion calling for paid parental leave for city employees was sponsored on the City Council by Councilmembers Nury Martinez, 6th District, and Paul Krekorian, 2nd District.

“Parents should never have to choose between making ends meet and spending time with their newborn children,” said Council President Herb Wesson, 10th District. “Besides being the right thing to do, we know this extension of paid leave will keep our workers in their jobs longer, allow more women to join in the labor force and chip away at the gender pay gap.”

“Too often, women and families are forced to return to work before they have bonded with their newborn or recovered from the effects of childbirth,” Martinez said. “For city of L.A. employees, this policy will have a profound and positive effect on the health and long-term well-being of mothers, families and newborns. I look forward to the day we offer a similar benefit to all mothers and families throughout the city of Los Angeles – the time has come, paid parental leave for all.”