Last month, the state Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sens. Paul Moriarty and Andrew Zwicker that would extend job protections to more employees who wish to take paid or unpaid leave. The measure drew criticism from business groups in New Jersey.

The bill would revise New Jersey’s Family Leave Act to reduce the minimum threshold for covered employers from an employer with 30 employees to an employer with 15 employees, extending the right for an employee to be reinstated to employment after taking family temporary disability leave insurance or unpaid family leave. 

The measure is before the Assembly, which is considering amendments adopted by the Senate.

“We are deeply disappointed by the State Senate’s passage of the family leave extension bill,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “A-3451 delivers a significant blow to tens of thousands of small businesses that are already struggling in today’s challenging economic environment. At a time when these employers need support, this legislation instead imposes new regulatory and financial burdens.

“We believe there should be no change at all, and that the threshold should remain at the current level of businesses with 30 employees.

“We urge the Assembly to reject the Senate bill and halt any effort to alter the existing family leave compliance policy.”

The New Jersey Business and Industry Association voiced its opposition to the measure when it passed the state Senate.

“Under this expanded Family Leave bill, the smallest of our employers would be required to not only protect a worker’s job, no matter what their performance level, but ensure that they come back to the same exact position they left before going on leave,” said NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer Christopher Emigholz. “If an employee doesn’t return to that same job, they would have a right to sue their employer under the bill. Those litigation costs would come at a time when small businesses are already challenged by increased wage costs, supply costs, and energy costs. It isn’t right.” 

Emigholz said this bill imposes more cost challenges for New Jersey’s smallest employers. “The expansion of this law removes the option for business owners to actually make practical decisions amid incredible cost burdens here in New Jersey,” he said.