A paid leave expansion bill is on Gov. Chris Christie’s desk after receiving final passage from the New Jersey Legislature last month.
If Christie signs it into law, employees could take 12 weeks of paid leave, an increase from the current six weeks. During this time, they would receive 90 percent of their pay, an increase from two-thirds. The weekly benefit would be capped at $932 instead of $633. In addition to using this leave for their own illness or to recover from childbirth or care for a new baby, employees could also take leave to care for sick siblings, in-laws, grandparents, grandchildren, or another family member who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence.
While the benefit would be covered by an existing state fund, which New Jersey workers contribute to through payroll deductions, business groups have pointed out concerns about who will be responsible for the costs if the program runs out of money, not to mention the compliance headaches and cost of covering this kind of extended absence.
“The hostility towards the business community in the state of New Jersey is gathering momentum as lawmakers seem determined to make the day-to-day operation of small businesses owners even more onerous and difficult than they already are,” said NFIB/NJ State Director Laurie Ehlbeck in a statement. “We continue to lose residents and employers at record-setting paces because of a legislative body that would rather kowtow to politically expedient ideas than empower employers and bolster our economy. If the expansion of paid leave turns into law, it will be detrimental to the small business community. Our only hope is that Governor Christie will show leadership and determination by vetoing this bill.”
