Palm Beach Prosecutor’s Office Opens Diversity Door

At the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council,  Michael McAuliffe, State Attorney for the Fifteen Judicial Circuit of Florida,  has revised his policies to allow employees to use family medical leave to care for domestic partners with serious health conditions.  Previously, the policy was limited to employees’ spouses, parents and children.

The Council, a local nonprofit organization founded in 1988, is dedicated to dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. McAuliffe also updated his policies to prohibit harassment based on gender identity and expression.

"As State Attorney, I am committed to creating a work place that can bring out our employees' best abilities and potential.  That means no barriers based on sexual orientation," said McAuliffe.

"State Attorney McAuliffe's pro-family policies should serve as a model for his colleagues statewide," said Council President Rand Hoch. 

McAuliffe has informed the Council that he will advocate at the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association for statutory changes to extend domestic partner benefits to employees of the 20 state attorneys in Florida .

The  Council is currently working on family medical leave reform with the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and  the City of West Palm Beach.

WRITTEN BY RICHARD GARY

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