New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed into law an expansion of the New Jersey Family Leave Act (“NJFLA”).

The NJFLA currently provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 24-month period to eligible employees who are employed by an employer with at least 50 employees. The leave may be used to care for a family member with a serious health condition or in connection with the birth or adoption of a child.

As of June 30, 2019, employers with at least 30 employees in total, anywhere will be required to provide such leave to its eligible New Jersey employees. In addition, employees who take a foster child into his or her care will be eligible to take leave under the NJFLA.

The recent changes to the NJFLA also include an expansion of the definition of a family member which will now include a sibling, parent-in-law, grandparent, and “any other individual related by blood to the employee, and any other individual that the employee shows to have a close association with the employee which is the equivalent of a family relationship.”

Under the recent amendments, employees will be permitted to take intermittent leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child without the employer’s permission. Moreover, employees need only give 15 days advance notice of their intent to take leave under the NJFLA to care for a family member with a serious health condition, a reduction from the current requirement of 30 days advance notice.

If you have questions about how these changes affect you please contact the Law Offices of Damian Christian Shammas, LLC to discuss your situation.