Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announces new Prosecutor’s Office Parental Leave Policy

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich has announced a new parental leave policy for employees. The move comes amidst a larger modernization of the office.

“I was shocked when I arrived to find the Prosecutor’s Office offered just four weeks of leave for new parents,” Pillich said. “Study after study has shown that’s not enough for new parents.”

The previous policy allowed for parental leave up to four weeks, the lowest among county executive offices. If both parents worked at the office, they would need to divide up the four-week leave, rather than each take four weeks. Additionally, the old policy denied leave for a second child born less than 12 months after the first, and for any family that opted to have more than two children while employed at the Prosecutor’s office.

Pillich put an end to those outdated policies. Going forward the office will provide employees with up to 12 weeks of leave for the addition of a new child to an employee through birth or adoption. Of the 12 weeks, eight weeks is paid by the county, without the employee using sick or vacation time. An employee birth mother immediately after the birth may elect to take four weeks of paid leave for physical recovery, after which she may take the eight weeks offered. That gives birth mothers a full 12 weeks of paid leave.

The office is also working to identify an area that would be safe pumping space for mothers that is not a bathroom. Pillich recognizes the dignity of mothers and the need for privacy. This room would be available to staff members and grand jurors, who work out of the prosecutor’s office.

This is not the first time Pillich has worked to help new parents. Pillich was pregnant while in law school at the University of Cincinnati and successfully worked with the school to add a private pumping room. As a state representative Pillich worked to add provisions to state law that required businesses to have pumping rooms, but the law was not enacted.

“This new policy enhances our ability to attract and retain a highly competent workforce particularly among attorneys who have other high paying options,” Pillich said.



Pillich is the first elected female prosecutor in Hamilton County history and the mother of two grown children.

Please direct questions to Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office Communications Director Sharon Coolidge.

Cell: 513: 513-317-5136

Email: Sharon.coolidge@hcpros.org