Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order to increase paid parental leave for state employees, provide paid childbirth leave for women recovering from giving birth and paid leave for those grieving from losing a fetus.
“Strong families are the cornerstone of strong communities, and it’s so important for a family to have quality time to care for their newest member,” Braun said. “I believe employers should do everything they can to accommodate the needs of new parents, and today I’m setting an example by strengthening our state’s policies for paid parental leave (including adoption), childbirth recovery leave and paid leave for those facing the tragedy of losing a baby. These new paid parental leave policies will benefit women recovering from childbirth, their spouses and the newborns whose health and development will be improved by more time with their parents in those first critical weeks. Indiana supports strong families.”
Under the new executive order:
- All employed women who give birth are eligible for six weeks paid childbirth recovery leave and up to eight weeks for c-section deliveries. This policy extends to employees who lose a fetus in utero at 20 weeks or beyond.
- All full-time state employees may receive up to 150 hours of paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child regardless of employment time.
- The policies will now apply no matter how long the employee has worked for the state. Employees who take leave after working for the state fewer than six months must agree to complete at least one year of consecutive employment following their return to work.
The Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute commented on Braun’s executive orders:
“We are excited to hear that the governor is expanding paid parental leave for state employees,” said Ashley Phillips, community needs analyst. “Paid leave will help our state run more efficiently; employees are at their best when they can prioritize their health and the health of their loved ones. Governor Braun is setting an example for the rest of our state and understands the benefit to businesses when we enact policies that prioritize health and family. I hope that this will lead to a statewide policy that will afford all Hoosier families the right to prioritize their health.”
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
