King County employees could soon benefit from 12 weeks of paid parental leave

SEATTLE — King County could soon adopt a policy of 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

"This is something that the leading employers in our area are now doing, and we are competing for the best employees with those employers,” said Dow Constantine, King County executive.

The proposal he has sent to the council is for a one-year pilot program that will cost about $2.9 million.

King County estimates 240 employees will use the paid leave in the first year, which breaks down to a cost of more than $12,000 per employee.

To qualify for all 12 weeks, county employees have to burn through all but one week of sick time, and use up all but one week of vacation time.

"Even if you don't have enough vacation and sick leave to take three months off, then we can make up the difference,” said Constantine.

Kate Kurtz is looking forward to the paid leave time.

"You only get this time once. You'll never get it again,” said Kurtz, a project manager for the county's wastewater treatment division, who is expecting her second child in January.

When her son was born, about 2 ½ years ago, she took time off without parental leave.

"It was OK, we made do, but it definitely was too soon,” said Kurtz.

"To be able to have that security of knowing that at least 12 weeks of my leave will be paid is really huge,” she added.

Constantine says that he expects the full County Council to approve the legislation later this month.

The paid leave would go into effect on Jan. 1.

KIRO