Kentucky’s 33,000 state employees face challenges taking time off from work after giving birth to a child or adopting, and many are forced to use sick leave or take unpaid leave through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act because they don’t have paid parental leave. Dustin Pugel, policy director at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said implementing a policy for state workers would put the Commonwealth more in line with other states, especially surrounding ones such as Ohio, already offering paid parental leave. “Younger workers who are considering starting a family, who are also looking at other state sectors to decide where they want to work, it’s really important that we attract them by offering this benefit.” Across Kentucky an increasing number of large private companies such as Norton Healthcare, along with public entities such as Louisville Metro Government and Fayette County Public Schools provide paid parental leave to employees. Mothers who use paid parental leave have stronger bonds with their child and have better physical and mental health. Pugel added, dads also benefit from paid time off to help nurture new life. “It’s shown to increase brain activity in the part of the brain that’s associated with empathy,” Pugel outlined. “For kids whose parents use paid parental leave, there’s a whole host of benefits as well, social, emotional, cognitive” As of the beginning of 2024, 38 states had a paid parental leave policy for state government employees, with Kentucky remaining one of the 12 states without a policy. get more stories like this via email The post Push for paid parental leave for KY state employees appeared first on The Lexington Times.