The recently enacted NJ Paid Family Leave Law provides employees with up to 6 weeks of paid leave to care for a seriously ill family member, or a new (including adopted) child.  Benefits will not be available until July 1, 2009.  However, two things will happen in the next month that businesses need to know about.

The Paid Family Leave Law is entirely employee funded — no employer contributions required.  Mandatory payroll deductions will begin on January 1, 2009.  Businesses should check with their payroll services to be sure that they comply.

By December 15, 2008 all covered businesses must comply with the Law's posting requirements.  As a practical matter, all NJ businesses and government offices are covered.  As with most things in NJ employment law (and unlike most similar federal law) there is no minimum number of employees that a business must have to qualify as a covered employer.  Pretty much it's "if you're in business, you're covered."

To help you comply with the posting requirement, here's the link for the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development's web site with the required notice.

Want more information?  Link here for DOL FAQ's.  Or call us; we'll be happy to help.