The Lake County Council has reversed course on not funding a proposed paid paternity leave program, agreeing to make money available in next year's budget.
The council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to use $175,000 to start a program for county employees after it first declined when Councilwoman Christine Cid pitched the idea.
"I am very happy that the majority of the council supported this," Cid said. "I think we're probably the first in the state to set money aside."
The initial proposal would allow male employees to take up to six weeks of paid paternity leave. Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, male employees can take an unpaid paternity leave, according to Cid.
She said she hopes the council can begin drafting the policy framework to start the paid program in 2018.
Councilman David Hamm, D-Hammond, who initially voted against the funding, said he changed his mind after talking with Cid about lowering the amount of time available to employees under the program.
Hamm said the Hammond Police Department and Hammond Fire Department offer employees one week of leave.
While the majority of the council supported the money for the proposal, others remained unsure if enough thought had been put into the idea.
"I'm telling you that's not going to be enough," Strong said of the $175,000 estimate.
Cid based the $175,000 on the number of newborns — 30 since 2015 — added to the county's insurance program. A memo from the county's insurer showed 17 in 2015, eight in 2016 and five so far in 2017.
Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, said he didn't think the council was informed sufficiently to move forward with the proposal.
"I'm not against it. My company has it," Dernulc said. "I just don't have enough information."
Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said that while paternity leave is gaining traction as a work-place benefit, the county already has a generous leave policy.
Repay said paternity leave also could be viewed as unfair by some employees who do not or cannot have children and take advantage of the benefit. Repay questioned whether the policy can be seen as excluding some employees or unfairly rewarding others.
The commissioner said he is not sure why the issue came up because officials did not seek it, and he is unaware of requests or complaints from employees about paternity leave.
"We didn't ask for it," Repay said.
Post-Tribune freelancer Carrie Napoleon contributed.