Many Anchorage City employees could soon have paid parental leave and flexible teleworking options. Municipal leaders hope the new policies, if approved, will help fill a high number of vacancies.
“The level of vacancies that we find ourselves with now is historically very out of the norm and high,” said Bill Falsey, Anchorage chief administrative officer. “And that’s really started to affect service delivery.”
On Tuesday, the Assembly will vote on a proposal to extend paid parental leave to most union-represented city employees. If approved, they’ll get four weeks of paid parental leave if they have a child or adopt or foster a child.
Falsey said the fire department’s union will have a chance to add the benefit for its members during contract negotiations in June.