Oxford City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday, April 19 to allow all members of the city’s police unions to have up to 12 weeks of parental leave, which is consistent with a provision added to the city employee handbook last year. 

The provision allows for the right to have eight weeks of paid parental leave. After using the paid leave, an employee may use an additional four weeks of unpaid leave. 

Because police union contracts are negotiated separately, this new provision did not previously apply to them. Now, all police officers will be able to take advantage of parental leave.