Allegheny County, PA has passed into law its Paid Parental Leave program on October 22, 2026. Employers with 15 or more employees will be responsible for providing leave under this law to their employees. This law is the first of its kind on county level and may inspire other similar types of leave in neighboring counties.

The important aspects of the leave are enumerated below:

1. Employees will receive 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave annually.

2. Employees will receive 100% of base pay per week, up to a maximum of $4,200. Employees will also retain health insurance benefits during the leave.

3. Both full-time and part-time employees are eligible for leave. Temporary/seasonal employees are not eligible for leave.

4. Employees have to work either 6 consecutive months or 625 hours (non-consecutive) in a year to be eligible for leave.

5. Leave may be used for the birth, legal permanent placement, or adoption of a child. Leave may also be used in the case of a stillborn child.

6. Employees may be required to provide as much as 30 days’ notice of the intent to use Paid Parental Leave.

It remains to be seen how local/county leave laws will intertwine with similar state and federal leave laws, but more information concerning such concurrence will likely be forthcoming as the leave gets closer to implementation. The leave laws are set to go into effect October 2027.