NEW JERSEY SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDS PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND TEMPORARY DISABILITY BENEFITS

On February 19, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law Assembly Bill 3975, significantly changing New Jersey’s paid family leave laws.

This new law expands who is eligible for job-protected leave to care for family members, newborns, adopted and fostered children, and victims of domestic or sexual violence, as well as what benefits eligible employees are entitled to receive while providing such care. Based on these significant changes to the law, employers will need to reevaluate the laws that apply to their workforce and revise their policies to be in compliance.

Assembly Bill 3975 amends the following New Jersey laws:

• New Jersey Family Leave Act (“NJFLA”), which provides job protection for the care of a family member or a new child.
• New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act (“NJ SAFE Act”), which provides job protection for leave taken due to domestic or sexual violence, either where the employee is the victim or employee is caring for a family member who is a victim.
• New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (“NJFLI”), which provides wage replacement for the care of a family member or a new child.
• New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (“NJTDI”), which provides wage replacement for an employee’s sickness or injury that prevents them from working.

Policies must comply with the new law which goes into effect immediately.

Stefani Schwartz has devoted her legal career to representing employers in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination matters. She is a leading practitioner in the field whose advice is often sought after. Whether it is a public or private entity, Stefani dedicates herself to counseling her clients and ensuring that proper and effective employment policies are in place. In-house counsel, human resource professionals and risk managers alike look to her for assistance in hiring, firing, and disciplining employees. In addition, employers rely on her knowledge of and experience providing compliance counseling with issues relating to discrimination, harassment, leaves of absence, wage and hour laws, and restrictive covenants. Stefani also has an expertise and is called upon to conduct internal investigations in a timely and efficient manner.

Feel free to contact Stefani with any questions or for assistance at (973) 403-1100.

Tags: employment law, FMLA, NJ FMLA, paid family leave, temporary disability benefits