NFIB TO NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY: MANDATING PAID LEAVE IS A GREAT WAY TO LOSE JOBS

TRENTON (December 16, 2014): The National Federation of Independent Business, fearful that the Assembly may take mandatory paid leave to the floor for a vote this week, is begging law makers to stay out of the day to day operations of their thousands of members.

 

“This bill is wrought with issues, not the least of which is that it ignores the fact that most small business owners already provide their employees with paid time off.” Said NFIB/NJ State Director Laurie Ehlbeck. “In today’s difficult economic environment, employers use flexibility and time management as a way to entice new potential employees and this bill will squash their ability to continue that practice.”

A2354 currently mandates anywhere from 40-72 hours of mandatory paid sick leave, depending on the size of the business and requires employers to carry over unused time from year to year.

 

“New Jersey was recently awarded the very last place by the tax foundation because of the crushing tax structure that small business faces and the Assembly would be better served to focus on alleviating that burden rather then creating more unfunded mandates.” Continued Ehlbeck, “With the lagging economy and hostile small business environment in New Jersey at the moment, employers are stretched as it is and having a hard enough time competing with neighboring states.”

A study conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation analyzing the potential economic impact of mandating mandatory paid leave concluded that A2354 would impose new costs on NJ employers. They include a loss of production due to more workers taking leave and the cost incurred for the new paperwork and record keeping required to comply with the mandate. The study shows that this law would cause the loss of 25,000 jobs by 2023. Small businesses would bear 58% of the job losses.

“Law makers should be focusing on job creation and fostering a business friendly environment,” said Ehlbeck, “Small business is fighting for survival in New Jersey and if mandatory paid leave becomes law, it will be detrimental to our members, our economy and the great people of our state that are fighting to be able to stay here, in spite of the harsh economic climate put into place by irresponsible lawmakers.”