Columbia approves paid family, medical leave for city workers

Employees of the city of Columbia will have the added benefit of paid family and medical leave beginning next year. The city council made it official on Monday.

In a change of policy, permanent employees who are qualified to be absent from work by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act will no longer be unpaid during the time off. Under the new policy, employees will be paid at their regular rate for up to six weeks in a 12-month period.

The cost to the city in the first year is estimated at $1.3 million.