Employer Update: Does Your Policy (and Handbook) Comply with the Expanded Coverage of the New Jersey Family Leave Law?

5.15.2020

Our previous post on April 24, “New Jersey Family Leave Act Expands Job Protection During Health Emergencies,” reported on the latest amendment to the New Jersey Family Leave law, which applies to employers with 30 or more employees.  The amendment expands previous coverage to provide unpaid family leave for an employee to provide care to a family member necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • when the employee is required to provide in-home care or treatment for a child due to school or daycare closure by order of a public official.
  • when, by issuance of a public health authority or recommendation of public health provider, an employee is caring for a sick or quarantined family member due to COVID-19.

For the details concerning both scenarios, refer to our earlier post here.  

Employers should note the amendment is not limited to COVID-19 and covers “a state of emergency declared by the Governor or when indicated to be needed by the Commissioner of Health or other public health authority.”  As such, it is important that employers update their Family Leave policies to include this new provision.

For questions about this legal alert or for help in updating your Employer Handbook, please contact Tracy Armstrong or another member of the Employment Law Team.

Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19)New Jersey Family Leave Act

BLOG DISCLAIMER

The postings on this blog were created for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services.  Although we attempt to ensure that the postings are complete, accurate, and current as of the time of publication, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.  The information in this blog is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship.  Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.

This blog may contain links to independent third party websites and services, including social media. We provide these links for your convenience, and you access them at your own risk.  We have no control over and do not monitor the content or policies (including privacy policies) of these third-party websites and have no responsibility for, and no liability with respect to, their content, accuracy, or reliability.  Unless expressly stated, we do not endorse any of the linked websites or any product, service, or publication referenced herein or therein.  We will remove a link to any site from this blog upon request of the linked entity.

We grant permission to readers to link to this blog so long as this blog is not misrepresented. This site is not sponsored or associated with any other site unless so identified.

If you wish for Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., to consider representing you, please obtain contact information from the Contact Us area of this blog or go to the firm’s website at www.wilentz.com.  One of our lawyers will be happy to discuss the possibility of representation with you. However, the authors of Wilentz blogs are licensed only in New Jersey and/or New York and do not wish to represent anyone who viewed this site in a state where the site fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state.

Sign Up

Tracy Armstrong Photo

Tracy Armstrong
Co-Chair, Employment Law Team
Shareholder
732.855.6020