New Jersey Enacts Paid Family Leave Law

On May 2, 2008, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed the New Jersey Paid Family Leave Insurance Law (A-873; S-786).  The new law was heavily debated in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, garnering strong support from unions but opposition from business and industry groups who expressed concern about the impact of extended absences on productivity and the cost of hiring temporary replacement workers.  The law’s stated purpose is to “increase workplace productivity and alleviate the enormous and growing stress on working families of balancing the demands of work and family needs.”  (A-873).