Legislative Action Soon on Ten Week Paid Family Leave

A paid family leave mandate requiring all employers to provide 10 weeks of paid leave is expected to be considered soon.

There has been a lot of controversy regarding this issue. S-2249 is the bill number of the proposed paid leave mandate. The legislation is expected to see a final vote before the current session ends on January 8, 2008.

The bill would provide employees with 10 weeks of paid leave every year to care for a newborn, adopted child or an ill family member. It applies to all companies, even those with as few as two employees.

New Jersey Business Industry Association members are arguing that it makes no sense to impose the same one size fits all, paid leave mandate on every employer. Under this mandate, businesses will be out nearly three months without key workers and force them to pay increased costs related to temporary workers, overtime and lost productivity.

Assembly speaker Joseph Roberts and Senate President Richard Codey, made it clear they feel the current bill goes too far and would have to be scaled back before a vote could be scheduled. Roberts also said he believes the number of weeks in the current bill is too high and the inclusion of all small businesses is too severe.

I am sure employees are hoping this bill passes, while employers are fighting against this mandate.

Source: NJ Business & Industry Association