WASHINGTON COUNTY (KFSM) -- A proposal to provide eight weeks of paid leave to county employees will be presented to the Washington County Quorum Court next week.
The proposal came after one Justice of the Peace suggested primary caregivers, who are new parents, should get paid time off.
"There has been a lot of focus on county benefits, and if they are truly as good as all of us say they are," Justice of the Peace Eva Madison.
The Quorum Court Personnel Committee passed the proposal Tuesday. Madison said she would vote in favor of the measure at the full Quorum Court meeting Sept. 15.
"It is the least we could do to support our working families in the county," Madison said.
The proposal would apply to county employees, both men and women if they are the primary caregiver, who recently had a child or adopted a child.
"I am an adoptive mom myself," Madison said. "So I think it is important that we protect all parents, regardless how you become a parent."
Madison said she hopes the Quorum Court vote would encourage businesses across the county to do the same.
"There are a lot of companies that are able to provide this benefit already. My employer provides it, which is nice. I think all companies that can do it, they should do it," Madison said.