SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-270

A resolution requesting the Civil Service Commission to establish and implement a parental and sick leave policy allowing maternity and paternity leave for employees of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County.

WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County is imbued with an outstanding workforce that works every day to make Nashville a better place to live for all residents; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Nashville value the benefits and needs of family life and the necessity of maintaining work-life balance; and

WHEREAS, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. §§2601-2654 (FMLA) provides a framework for employees to take time away from their job in order to care for family members, but does not ensure pay for that time; and

WHEREAS, it is important that Nashville remain competitive in our ability to attract and retain the best and brightest workforce in order to continue providing the highest level of service to its citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County constantly seeks to improve and update available benefits for its employees in order to recruit talented people who are successful in their fields and to encourage existing employees to continue working here; and

WHEREAS, many private and public companies and institutions currently allow their employees to take time off when they have children, and many of these companies and institutions offer the same amount of time off for both male and female employees in recognition of the shared duties of parenting a newborn or newly adopted child; and

WHEREAS, flexibility to care for newborn and adopted children has become a highly valued benefit that contributes to workforce retention; and

WHEREAS, Nashville competes for workforce talent with many employers who offer paid maternity and paternity leave; and

WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County has undertaken efforts to be a more family-friendly city and to set an example for private enterprise in reaching this goal; and

WHEREAS, the benefits of paid leave for new parents should be made available to both female and male employees in recognition of the shared duties of parenting a newborn or newly adopted chil d.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as requesting that the Civil Service Commission establish and implement a parental and sick leave policy under which employees of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County who are new parents receive paid maternity and/or paternity leave following the birth or adoption of a child.

Section 2. That the Civil Service Commission submit to the Metropolitan Council its recommendations for such policy within ninety (90) days of the passage of this Resolution.

Section 3. That the Metropolitan Clerk deliver a copy of this Resolution to the individual members of the Civil Service Commission and to Veronica T. Frazier, Director of the Metropolitan Department of Human Resources.

Section 4. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Anthony Davis, Sheri Weiner, Jeremy Elrod, Mina Johnson, Burkley Allen, Erica Gilmore, Bob Mendes