By: HUB's Absence Management Team

On May 13, 2026, the Allegheny County (PA) Board of Health advanced a proposed rule that would require every employer in the county — regardless of size — to provide up to 18 weeks of job-protected paid parental leave and expand the county’s existing paid sick leave requirements. If adopted, Allegheny County would become the first county in Pennsylvania to mandate paid parental leave for private employers.

LATEST UPDATE

After a June 2 public hearing and more than 500 written comments, the County extended the public comment period to July 16, 2026. The earliest the Board of Health could vote is now September 2026; the rule would then move to County Council and the County Executive. If enacted, the provisions take effect 180 days later — realistically in 2027.

WHAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE

  • All employers covered — no size threshold (the current sick leave rule reaches only employers with 26+).
  • Eligibility after 30 days of employment.
  • Covers birth, adoption, or legal placement of a child, including foster care.
  • Up to 18 weeks, used within the first 12 months of the qualifying event; intermittent use permitted.
  • Paid at the employee’s base rate of pay.
  • Two parents at the same employer may take leave concurrently or consecutively.

DON’T OVERLOOK THE PAID SICK LEAVE EXPANSION

  • Faster accrual: one hour for every 30 hours worked (up from one per 35).
  • Annual caps rise to 72 hours (employers with 15+) and 48 hours (fewer than 15).
  • Now applies to employers of all sizes — not only those with 26+ employees.

WHY IT MATTERS FOR LEAVE ADMINISTRATION

  • Leave that also qualifies under the FMLA would run concurrently.
  • There are implications to how vendors and TPAs will administer offsets of a mandated paid leave program for organizations that already provide their own paid leave.
  • Written notice required at hire and annually; expanded anti-retaliation protections apply.

The HUB Absence Management team will continue to monitor this proposal and provide updates as it winds its way through the rulemaking process.

View more Absence Management updates on the Absence Management Bulletins page.

NOTICE OF DISCLAIMER
Neither Hub International Limited nor any of its affiliated companies is a law or accounting firm, and therefore, they cannot provide legal or tax advice. The information herein is provided for general information only and is not intended to constitute legal or tax advice as to an organization’s specific circumstances. You should consult an attorney, accountant or other legal or tax professional regarding the application of the general information provided here to your organization’s specific situation in light of your organization’s particular needs.