Montclair Employers Take Notice: Paid Sick Time Law Now In Effect

If you’re an employee in Montclair, you have a new workplace right beginning on Wednesday, March 4… paid sick time.

That’s the day Montclair’s new Paid Sick Time ordinance goes into effect. The ordinance, which passed by a nearly three-to-one margin as a referendum question on last November’s ballot, will provide employees working in the municipality up to 40 hours of paid sick time.

Under Montclair’s Paid Sick Time law (also known as Earned Sick Days), employees who work for at least 80 hours in a calendar year in the town must be provided with paid sick time by their employers.

Exempt workers include individuals employed by the city, state or federal government, individuals employed by any New Jersey school district or board of education, and a limited number of union members.

“The implementation of guaranteed paid sick leave means catching the flu or child coming down sick won’t result in losing a job or lost wages,” stated Montclair Deputy Mayor Bob Russo in a release.

“Montclair was at the vanguard on this issue because residents recognize that paid sick leave benefits employees, employers and the economy as a whole.”

Workers who believe their employers are in violation of the ordinance may file a complaint with the Montclair Department of Health and Human Services or with the Municipal Court.

For more information on Montclair’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance, visit the Paid Sick Time Ordinance Information page on the Montclair Township website.

Read the actual text of the ordinance here.

HOW DO EMPLOYEES ACCURE SICK TIME?

· Employers with 10 or more employees must provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave over a calendar year

· Employers with fewer than 10 employees must provide up to 24 hours of paid sick leave over a calendar year

· Child care workers, home health care workers and food service workers may accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave over a calendar year regardless of the number of people employed by their employer

Beginning on March 4, 2015, the above employees accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Those who working for their employer for more than 80 calendar days can begin using paid sick time as it is accrued. Otherwise, they can begin using paid sick time 80 calendar days after their employment begins.

Send Montclair news tips to eric.kiefer@patch.com