Fort Wayne eyes paid parental leave policy for city workers

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Indiana's second-largest city is moving closer to granting up to three weeks of paid parental leave to its municipal employees.

The Fort Wayne City Council voted 8-1 this past week giving preliminary approval to a parental leave policy granting the leave time to city workers following the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under age 18.

The Journal Gazette reports city officials say parental leave helps employees' families adjust to births or adoptions, boosts family health and helps decrease infant mortality rates.

The council is scheduled to take a final vote Tuesday on the policy. It would apply to both mothers and fathers and must be taken within the first 12 weeks following a birth or adoption.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net