City of Houston Prioritizes Families and Makes History with Paid Parental Leave Policy May 2022 .By Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

The new policy covers any person who has been with the City of Houston as a full-time employee for at least six continuous months before the initial use of the paid leaves for prenatal, parental and/or infant wellness. Part-time and temporary employees are not eligible.
The policy will apply equally to any parent regardless of gender and applies to couples, whether male, female, or LGBTQ+.
All of our employees, male and female, can benefit from what we did today. By offering paid, prenatal, parental, and infant wellness leaves, the City of Houston will be able to attract and retain top talent while supporting families and children. As a father, I understand the importance of bonding with a newborn, and I also listened to the stories of employees who have struggled to balance work with the birth or adoption of a child.
I want to extend my thanks to everyone who worked to create and pass the policy, including city council members, especially District C Abbie Kamin, who spearheaded the Houston Women’s Commission, and Chief of Staff Marvalette Hunter. Others included Human Resources Director Jane Cheeks, Finance Director Tantri Emo, City Attorney Arturo Michel, and their respective teams. Members of HOPE and SEIU also supported the new policy.
It can be challenging for the public sector to compete with private industry when it comes to salaries, benefits and recruiting and retaining employees. However, as we work to build a 21st-century workforce, we must remain competitive and responsive to working families’ needs.

This policy, along with other progressive measures we are taking designed to capitalize on technology, creates a better work environment and paves the way for the city of Houston to lead the way in being a good place to work, stay and retire.