MANDATORY PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY

It seems a mandatory paid parental leave policy cannot be implemented in Westmoreland County. The neighboring Allegheny County Council passed a measure this week that would require every business with 15 or more eligible employees to provide 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents. Westmoreland Commissioner Ted Kopas says he and his counterparts would not be able to pass a similar requirement, if they wanted to, under state law. Westmoreland County operates under the Pennsylvania County Code, which bars local officials from passing and enforcing social mandates. Allegheny County’s form of government was changed to home rule roughly 30 years ago, allowing for these types of policies.