Kentucky is set to introduce a new paid leave policy aimed at enabling state employees to bond with a new child or manage significant health issues, according to Governor Andy Beshear’s announcement on Thursday.
Under this initiative, state executive branch employees will be entitled to up to six weeks of paid leave, which they can utilize in three separate instances throughout their tenure. New employees will have immediate access to this time off, while two additional opportunities will be available after 10 and 20 years of service.
The primary goal behind this initiative is to enhance the attractiveness of state government positions.
“It is the right thing to do for our employees,” Beshear remarked during a press event, emphasizing the state’s commitment to its workforce. “We care about our employees and we’re going to keep fighting for you.”
It is important to note that the paid leave will not accumulate between intervals, as clarified by Beshear’s administration.
With approximately 30,500 executive branch workers eligible for this benefit upon implementation, the state’s Personnel Cabinet sees this move as a significant enhancement to employee welfare.
This paid leave will be enacted through a regulatory change, with the possibility of availability starting next summer. It will supplement existing benefits which include annual, sick, or compensatory leave.
Eligible workers will be able to access six weeks of paid leave for serious health conditions or for welcoming a new child through birth, adoption, or foster care, as specified by Beshear.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman highlighted the critical nature of this benefit, stating, “No one needs that more than a new mom or a patient who just got some not-so-great news.” Coleman has experienced both situations herself; she welcomed her daughter early in her first term and had a double mastectomy just days after beginning her second term in late 2023.
“I know how important it is to focus on your health without having to worry about work,” she stated, noting that many can relate to the need for support in difficult times.
Republican State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe commended the governor’s administration for introducing this family-friendly policy, labeling it a “pro-family and pro-workforce step forward.” She expressed her belief in the merits of paid family leave and voiced her support for this advancement within Kentucky’s workforce.
Bledsoe mentioned that this initiative would help the state compete better in attracting and retaining talented employees, reinforcing the notion that additional funding would not be necessary for parents to spend essential time with their newborns.
This new leave policy marks the latest endeavor by the state to reward its employees. Previously, Beshear had announced that new state workers would be eligible for health insurance from their very first day, along with pay increases totalling around 20% for executive branch employees by the start of the next fiscal year.