GOP officials split on whether to adopt Cooper's paid parental leave directive for state employees

Ag Commissioner Troxler opts in; 770 workers under Treasurer Folwell, Labor Commissioner Berry will not benefit

Beginning next month, new parents working for the state will be able to take up to eight weeks of paid parental leave.

The new benefit, established by an executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper, applies only to employees of state agencies under the governor’s oversight, but, as the governor hoped, most other state agencies have either voluntarily extended the benefit to their employees or are considering it.

Nearly 59,000 employees could benefit from the new policy.

“Paid time off for parents to recover from childbirth and bond with new family members is the right thing to do and I’m grateful that many other agencies agree,” Gov. Cooper said in a prepared statement. “As paid parental leave becomes an increasingly competitive benefit across North Carolina, it also serves as a powerful incentive to recruit, retain and motivate a strong state government workforce.”

Read more: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2019/08/21/gop-officials-split-on-whether-to-adopt-coopers-paid-parental-leave-directive-for-state-employees/