Local 464A Members in NJ to Benefit from Paid Family Leave Act

Governor John Corzine signed legislation on May 2, 2008 granting employees up to six weeks off with pay to care for a new child or a sick spouse, child or parent. The Governor had publicly supported this paid family leave program as it was debated in the Assembly. New Jersey now becomes the third state in the nation to create this type of a program for workers. The law will benefit Local 464A members in New Jersey by granting six weeks of leave at reduced pay to workers who elect to stay home to care for a new child or a sick relative.
The details of the paid family leave act (A873) are:
1. Up to six weeks off to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or sick parent, spouse or child
2. Up to two-thirds of pay to a maximum of $524 a week, tax free
3. For a new child 30 days notice must be given to the employer and leave must be taken within the first twelve months after birth or adoption
4. To care for an immediate family member (child, parent or spouse only), 15 days notice must be given to the employer
5. Employers can require workers to use up to two weeks of available vacation time, sick leave time or personal days before the paid family leave provisions become active
6. To pay for the law New Jersey workers will incur a new tax of $33.00 per year. The tax will commence in January 2009 with deductions from payroll up to the first $27,700 of earnings
7. Workers may begin applying for paid family leave benefits starting in July 2009
8. Special Note – Workers employed by companies with fewer than 50 employees are not guaranteed that their jobs will be held for their return and they forfeit the right to sue if they lose their job. The jobs of workers employed by companies with 50 or more employees are protected