New Jersey's governor recently approved a significant
expansion of the state's leave laws, permitting employees
job-protected leave for a variety of new reasons and expanding
available state-provided, income-replacement benefits.
The Feb. 19 action by Gov. Phil Murphy expands existing
job-protected leave under the New Jersey Family Leave Act and SAFE
Act and available benefits under family leave insurance.
Family Leave
Prior to the amendments, the New Jersey Family Leave Act
required employers with 50 or more employees (counting those
employed both in and outside New Jersey) to provide their New
Jersey employees with 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 24-month
period to care for a family member (parent, parent-in-law, minor or
disabled child, spouse, or civil union partner) with a serious
health condition, or to bond with a newly born or adopted child.
The new legislation extends coverage to employers
with 30 or more employees effective June 30.
