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Competing Plans For Parental Leave For Cincinnati Workers

There are competing proposals for offering parental leave to Cincinnati city workers.  

Council Members Yvette Simpson and Chris Seelbach want to offer four weeks of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child.  

Mayor John Cranley last week introduced a plan to allow time off, but employees would have to use sick time. If they do not have enough hours they could borrow against future sick time.  

Simpson criticized the plan from the Mayor.

“It is not a policy that I believe as an employment lawyer who works with human resource directors that I would recommend to any of my clients,” Simpson said.  “Because it’s not something that creates a great work environment for women who disproportionately take this leave and for men who want to take this leave.”

City assistant human resources director Nancy Olind said city administration is against the proposals.

“Overall most cities within the region do rely on the Family Medical Leave Act for benefits and the city already provides maternity leave as well as other benefits,” Olind said.  “So the recommendation right now from the administration would be to not change any existing policies and to continue with the policies that are already in place.”

Council's Budget and Finance committee could consider the Cranley plan Monday.  

It will be up to the mayor to decide whether the Simpson/Seelbach plan gets referred to a committee for consideration.

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.