Six-Week Paid Leave Now Available To Nashville’s City Workers

For the first time ever, Metro employees have paid family leave. The new benefit was unanimously approved this week by the city’s Civil Service Commission and went into effect immediately.

Employees who have worked for Metro government for at least six months will now get about six weeks of paid time off upon the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a seriously ill spouse, parent or child.

The Metro Council last year recommended Mayor Megan Barry’s administration study the feasibility of a paid family leave benefit, which the Mayor’s Office did with the Council on Gender Equity.

“No parent, spouse, son or daughter should have to choose between providing care to their loved ones in their time of need or being forced to go without pay or quit their job,” Barry said in a written statement. “Paid family leave will help to ensure our Metro employees don’t have to make that choice while also helping Metro government recruit and retain great public servants.”

More data will now be gathered on the policy, as part of a cost-benefit analysis for future budgeting. Metro Government employs roughly 9,300 people.