Chicago implements uniform maternity leave

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration announced Wednesday it was instituting a uniform maternity leave policy for nonunion employees.

Emanuel spokeswoman Chris Mather says commissioners who ran departments had previously granted administrative time off to people who asked for it.

The new policy gives women four to six weeks of paid leave after they give birth. Adoptive parents are entitled to two weeks. Partners and spouses can get a week off.

Emanuel says the city made the move to bring it in line with others in the public and private sectors.

The city also is cracking down on how much vacation time employees can carry over. That minimizes how much unused time they are paid for if they leave their jobs.