Senator Moriarty's Legislation to Provide Family Leave Benefits to More New Jerseyans Becomes Law Today

By Susan K. Livio | NJ.com

A new law takes effect Friday that will allow 400,000 more workers to qualify for New Jersey’s paid family leave, guaranteeing them a portion of their wages and a job to return to after taking care of a loved one.

The old law allowed people working at a company with at least 30 employees to qualify for up to 12 weeks of paid leave every two years to care for a new child or an ill family member — with guaranteed job protections. The new law says employers with 15 workers must offer these benefits too.

The new law also reduced the amount of time employees must have worked before qualifying for benefits. The old law required a person to have been employed for at least 12 months and have logged 1,000 hours. Going forward, employees have to have only three months of tenure and have worked 250 hours.

“No one should have to choose between caring for themselves or a loved one and keeping their job,” said acting Labor Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. “These changes strengthen one of New Jersey’s most important worker protections by ensuring more people can take the time they need with the confidence that their job will be there when they return.”

Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill into law Jan. 17, just days before he finished his second term. The new law also extended job protection benefits to workers receiving Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance if employers instead provide coverage through a private insurance carrier.

Taken together, these changes are designed to help newer employees, part-time workers, more people who work at small businesses and those receiving benefits related to domestic or sexual violence.

The legislation was opposed by some business organizations, but was championed by the AARP as well as labor and family advocacy groups.