400K More NJ Workers Now Qualify For Family Leave Protections

New Jersey workers who need to take time off the job to care for a family member recently gained some more rights under a new state law.

An estimated 400,000 additional workers will now qualify for family leave in New Jersey under a law that took effect on July 17.

Subscribe

The new rules broaden eligibility for the New Jersey Family Leave Act, which guarantees employees time off work to bond with a new child, or care for a sick family member. Many Garden State residents who qualify for Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance benefits will also now be able to qualify for paid family leave.

Previously, job-protected family leave was only extended to businesses that have 30 or more employees. The new law lowers that threshold to employers with 15 or more employees and reduces the waiting period for worker benefits. In addition, workers are now eligible for job-protected leave after three months of employment, and 250 hours worked in the past 12 months.

The new regulations were signed into law by former Gov. Phil Murphy before he left office in January.

"No one should be penalized for needing time to care, and this bill helps make sure the vast majority of workers never will," Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said.

• Related: Use Of Paid Family Leave In NJ Is Rising, Rutgers Researchers Say

According to New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA) and the NJ Time to Care Coalition, the expanded protections will particularly benefit workers who have historically fallen through the cracks: women workers, people of color, lower wage workers, employees of small businesses, newer workers, many part-time employees, and survivors of domestic or sexual violence.

Here's what to know about the changes that kicked in last week, the groups said:

"Workers receiving Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) or Family Leave Insurance (FLI) benefits, who are not already covered under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) or the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), are now guaranteed the right to return to the same job, or an equivalent position with the same pay, benefits, seniority, and working conditions, after their leave… Changes also expand eligibility for job-protected leave under the NJFLA by lowering the employer-size threshold from 30 employees to 15, reducing the required length of employment from 12 months to just three months, and lowering the hours-worked requirement from 1,000 hours to only 250 hours over the previous year."

"Without job security, New Jersey workers who qualified for paid leave benefits face the terrifying possibility of losing their jobs simply when taking time off to recover from a serious illness, care for a loved one, bond with a new child, or cope with domestic or sexual violence," said Yarrow Willman-Cole, workplace justice program director with the NJCA.

Other advocates who supported the new rules included:

Rosanna Rodriguez, executive director at the Laundry Workers Center – "The new job protection law in New Jersey is truly life-changing. This protection marks a significant step forward in transforming the system and providing crucial support to individuals who need to apply for programs that help them care for themselves or their families. It's a relief to know you can do so without fear of losing your job."

Michele Liebtag, political and education director at CWA Local 1036 – "From a union perspective, these enhancements are about dignity, security, and basic fairness on the job. No worker who keeps New Jersey running should have to choose between welcoming a child, caring for a loved one or staying safe from violence and keeping their paycheck and position."

Peg Kinsell, policy director with SPAN Parent Advocacy Network – "Paid leave only works when workers know they'll still have a job when they return. This law finally closes one of the biggest gaps in our leave system and brings us closer to a New Jersey where every worker can care for themselves and their loved ones, including children with disabilities or special health care needs, without risking economic devastation."

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.