Louisville Medicine Volume 71, Issue 12 | Page 18

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is out on parental leave . In fact , supervisors report Metro ’ s Paid Parental Leave policy has helped to attract and keep employees .
Investing in the health and well-being of employees and their families benefits them and the organization as a whole . Strong paid parental leave policies help keep employees from having to decide between their jobs and caring for their families . This evaluation provides some early actionable data that the Paid Parental Leave policy is working . Our goal is to continue looking at ways to better support new parents both during leave and when returning to work .
My hope is Louisville Metro Government ’ s Paid Parental Leave policy will serve as a model for other organizations and businesses to implement . My request is that you consider the practices and policies your workplace has when it comes to parental leave and ask if you ’ re allowing adequate time off for both parents to welcome a child into their home .
a healthier start both emotionally and physically , and that in turn creates a healthier , more equitable and stronger city . If we work to make a cultural shift that better supports families , maybe the next generation of mothers and fathers will share a quote that will make us smile and reflect on the change we helped create .
You can read the full evaluation of Louisville Metro Government ’ s Paid Parental Leave policy by visiting www . louisvilleky . gov and searching for paid parental leave .
Connie Mendel is the director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and interim Chief Health Strategist for the city . You can reach her at connie . mendel @ louisvilleky . gov .
A strong paid parental leave policy helps parents and babies have
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