New Jersey Family Leave Act

The New Jersey Family Leave Act (“NJFLA”) is an employment law that protects covered employees who need time off from work for a family leave.

What Employees are Covered by the NJFLA?

The NJFLA applies to most employees in New Jersey who have worked for a covered employer for at least a year, and worked a minimum of 1,000 hours during the previous 12 months.

What Employers are Covered by the NJFLA?

The NJFLA applies to employers that have at least 30 employees. However, the 30 employees do not have to work in New Jersey.

What Types of Leaves Are Permitted Under the NJFLA?

The NJFLA covers leaves to:

• Care for a newborn or newly adopted child within the first year after the birth or adoption; and
• Care for a family member due to a serious health problem.

However, unlike the federal Family & Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the NJFLA does not cover medical leaves for an employee’s own serious health condition.

Very Broad Definition of Family Members?=

The statute defines family member very broadly. It includes not just spouses, children, foster children, step-children, parents, civil union partners, domestic partners, parents-in-law, step-parents, and foster parents. Rather, it even includes any other blood relative, and anyone else who the employee has a “close association” that is “equivalent of a family relationship.” As a result, it includes the employee’s siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins, among numerous other relationships.

How Does an Employee Request a NJFLA Leave?

Generally, under this New Jersey employment law, employees have to give their employer at least 30 days’ advance notice before they can take a protected family leave. However, when the leave is for an emergency or providing 30 days’ notice is otherwise impossible, the employee only has to give as much notice as is practical under the circumstances.

Eligible employees do not have to mention the NJFLA by name to be eligible for a family leave. Rather, to be protected by it they merely have to give the employer enough information that the employer should understand that the leave might be covered by the NJFLA.

To the extent appropriate, an employer has the right to ask an employee for additional information so it can determine whether the leave is covered by the NJFLA. The employer also can require the employee to have a health care provider complete a certification form to allow the employer to confirm that the leave is covered by the NJFLA.

How Much Time Can an Employee Take Off Under the NJFLA?

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of family leave during a 24-month period.

Are Employees Entitled to be Paid During NJFLA Leaves?

Although some companies provide paid family leaves, the FLA does not require employers to pay employees during a family leave. Employees may be entitled to receive insurance benefits pursuant to the New Jersey Paid Family Leave Insurance Law, or to use sick leave pursuant to the New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law or a company policy.

What Protection Does the NJFLA Provide to Employees Who Take Family Leaves?

Generally, when an employee takes a leave pursuant to the FLA, they are entitled to return to their job, or an equivalent one, when the leave is over.

What Damages are Recoverable Under the NJFLA?

If an employer violates the NJFLA by denying an employee a leave or failing to reinstate an employee at the end of a leave, the employee can recover his or her economic damages (lost salary and benefits), out-of-pocket losses, and damages for pain and suffering and emotional distress, as well as their legal fees, among other potential remedies.

What is the Deadline to File a Claim under the NJFLA?

The FLA has a 2-year statute of limitations. In other words, you must file a claim under it within 2 years of the violation of law.

Contact Us

If you have a claim or issue under the NJFLA, or another New Jersey employment law statute, please feel free to contract Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C. online, or to call us at (201) 777-2250.