Mercy adds new parental perk for employees

Mercy added paid parental leave to its benefits package, giving a new perk to nearly 40,000 employees in the health system’s four-state footprint.

Mercy Springfield Communities spokeswoman Sonya Kullmann said the health system’s employees previously used paid-time off and extended sick-bank hours for family leave.

“The new leave kicks in before co-workers use any PTO or ESB hours,” she said via email, noting Mercy Springfield Communities employs more than 11,000 people.

The two weeks of paid family leave is available for both men and women, as well as foster and adoptive parents, according to a news release.

The switch follows a 2017 survey Mercy conducted of its employees.

“Paid parental leave was one of the top concerns,” said Cindy Rosburg, Mercy’s chief human resources officer, in the release. “In the U.S., only about 10 percent of health care organizations offer paid parental leave.

“Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, never married or had children herself, but she adopted children. She founded the order in Ireland almost 200 years ago to help address critical human needs, especially those of children and mothers. For Mercy, providing paid parental leave is the right thing to do. Catherine would be proud.”

Mercy also announced the launch of a pilot child care and elder care assistance program, as well as an initiative through which employees can refinance student loans.