Allegheny County’s paid leave proposal easily cleared another hurdle Thursday, over the objections of some who said the process was running roughshod over the concerns of businesses that would have to implement it.
A council committee on health voted 5-1 to advance the legislation to a final vote by the full council. If approved, employers must grant parents 12 weeks of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child or a stillbirth.
“Public health is not limited only to preventing infectious disease … or just providing clinical services,” county Health Department Director Dr. Iulia Vann told committee members prior to the vote. “It’s also our responsibility to address the conditions that influence whether people can live healthier lives.”…