New Law Provides Expanded Protection for New Jersey Caregivers

Last month, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law one of the most expansive paid sick leave programs in the nation, fulfilling his commitment to support working families and strengthen New Jersey’s economy. New Jersey now joins a select group of states – nine plus the District of Columbia – that have enacted paid sick leave to provide earned compensation for workers who miss work due to illness or needing to take care of a sick loved one.

“There is no reason anyone should have to choose between economic security and their health,” said Governor Phil Murphy in a statement on May 2. “New Jerseyans will no longer have to face such a choice. I am proud to sign into law one of the strongest earned leave protections in the country for every hardworking employee who deserves the basic right of a paid sick day,” said the Democratic Governor.

Currently, 13 municipalities in New Jersey have enacted earned sick leave for private sector employees. Outside of these municipalities, private sector employees do not have any right to receive earned sick leave. Overall, an estimated 1.2 million workers in New Jersey do not have any access to paid sick leave.

Caregivers Often Face Financial and Job Difficulties

According to AARP New Jersey, more than 1.1 million people in the state care for their parents, spouses and other loved ones so they can live in their homes, where they prefer to be. Most family caregivers combine the responsibilities of their full-time or part-time jobs with the care of a loved one. However, more than one million workers in New Jersey do not have a single paid day of sick leave at work, said the aging advocacy group.

Thousands of state residents face financial difficulties or risk losing their jobs if they need to take time off to take care of themselves or a loved one.

This new law will ensure that caregivers who also work will not have to expose themselves to financial risks in order to care for a loved one. It requires employers to provide sick leave to their employees to take care of themselves, a family member or someone whose relationship with the employee is equivalent to the family link. Employees will accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours of work, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year. This law will come into force in October of this year.

Employees may use paid sick leave for the following:

• Diagnosis, treatment, or recovery from a mental or physical illness or injury, or preventive care, for the employee or a family member
• Obtaining services if the employee or a family member is a victim of domestic or sexual violence
• Circumstances arising from a public health emergency
• A school-related meeting or event with regard to the employee’s child

Sponsors of the legislation include Senators Loretta Weinberg and Linda R. Greenstein and Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt, Raj Mukherji, Shavonda E. Sumter, Paul D. Moriarty, Benjie E. Wimberly, and the late Jerry Green.

Go to AARP resource center for caregivers at www.aarp.org/caregiving to get information and resources to take care of your loved ones or call 1-888-971-2013.