Maricopa County is now one of the largest employers in Arizona’s government sector offering paid parental leave. The Board of Supervisors authorized the policy change today as it continues to support the people who work at the County as well as future employees who choose a career in public service.
“This is a great addition to the competitive benefits package already offered by the County,” said Chairman Bill Gates, District 3 Supervisor. “Having a baby or adopting a child can be a hectic time in a parent’s life. We know providing a reasonable amount of paid time off will help employees be better parents and better employees in the long run.”
The policy allows for as much as 240 hours (six weeks) of leave to employees working at least 20 hours per week who have been continuously employed at the County for at least 12 months. It can be used all at once or intermittently over the course of a year. And either parent qualifies for this benefit.
“We heard from our employees and job seekers this is important to them,” said County Manager Joy Rich. “Becoming a parent brings new financial and emotional challenges. We can offer the benefit of time to adjust before returning to serve our county residents.”
Maricopa County employs approximately 13,000 people across 50 lines of business. During the past two years, the Board has provided time off to employees who contracted COVID-19 or needed to care for a loved one; adjusted teleworking policy to give many employees more flexibility regarding when and where they work; and enhanced mental health and wellness support to meet the needs of the County team.