New Jersey to Expand Paid Family Leave Program

The state of New Jersey created a bill to expand the paid family leave program. Bill A-3975 would increase the amount of time workers could take off from six to 12 weeks of leave. Companies who employ 30 employees or more would have to provide the program to their workers. The percentage of weekly benefits would also increase by 15 percent – it is currently capped at 70 percent. Family members including grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and adult children would all be eligible to participate in the program. Benefits would be provided to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and to the family members who tend to them.

More employees will be eligible under the expanded paid family leave program to tend to their family members or take care of their own medical needs. The program will ensure that employers do not retaliate against workers who must take off significant time to care for a sick relative or to recover from a health issue of their own. This is a boon for the many workers who feel that they cannot afford to leave work even if they contract an illness or a family member needs them.

If you dealt with workplace discrimination or retaliation at your job because of medical reasons, call the South Jersey employment lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. at 215-569-1999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Our firm handles an extensive array of employment law issues including wage and hour claims. We represent clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania from our offices in Pennsauken, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.