LITTLE ROCK – The City of Little Rock has fully implemented its new paid parental leave policy — the first of its kind for a city in Arkansas — providing up to 12 weeks of paid time off to new parents employed full-time by the City.
The leave policy reflects a commitment by Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., and Little Rock leaders to support employees and their families. Paid leave is proven to offer positive, lasting benefits to parents and children. The policy was adopted by the Little Rock Board of Directors as part of the City’s 2026 budget.
“The City of Little Rock takes seriously the importance of work-life balance and prioritizing families, and we show that through our paid parental leave program,” Mayor Scott said. “Now, mothers and fathers are able to be fully present during those first few precious weeks and months, instead of being concerned about losing a paycheck or rushing back to work. This essential time of bonding and recovery has a lasting impact, and our employees, their children and our entire City will be better for it.”
Little Rock adds paid parental leave to its panoply of benefits, which include generous paid time off and short-term disability leave, as well as employer-paid health insurance premiums and up to a $5,000 bonus to new full-time employees who relocate to Little Rock.
In addition, Little Rock was the first city in Arkansas to set a $15-an-hour minimum wage for all municipal employees.
With the paid parental leave benefit, mothers and fathers may care for and bond with a new child through birth, adoption, foster care placement, or surrogacy. Parents experiencing pregnancy loss also qualify for the leave.
Full-time employees who have worked for the City at least a year are eligible for a full 12 weeks of leave. Those who have not yet worked for the City for a full year would be eligible for six weeks of paid leave.
Research shows that paid parental leave policies lead to a reduced risk for new mothers to develop post-partum depression, while creating a positive and supportive pathway for parents to return to work. Such policies also are associated with decreased rates of low birth weight, fewer infant deaths, and increased breastfeeding rates. For fathers, the length of available leave correlates directly with positive family involvement.
Multiple health care providers, early education groups, maternal health stakeholders, and others have shown gratitude to Mayor Scott and the City for the new policy.
“We are incredibly proud of the City of Little Rock, which is an Excel by Eight community, for adopting a 12-week paid parental leave policy,” said Angela Duran, executive director of Excel by Eight. “Through our community work, we’ve seen how local leadership can turn awareness into action. This is a meaningful step forward for working families and a powerful example of what’s possible when communities prioritize both workforce strength and retention and child well-being.”
Keesa Smith-Brantley, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, said: “AACF is excited to see the City of Little Rock’s new parental leave policy, and we celebrate the city’s commitment to strengthening families and supporting working parents. Studies have long shown that parents need the opportunity to bond with their new child without having to worry about their families’ financial health or their job security. By providing parental leave to mothers and fathers, the city is showing its commitment to ensuring that employees have job security while prioritizing what is most important- their families. We are proud of the city for setting this example and hope to see this trend continue throughout Arkansas.”
View Little Rock’s paid parental leave policy on the City’s website.