Labor & Employment (Paid Leave) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1869: Concerns bereavement leave for miscarriage and stillbirth.

This bill (S 1869) expands New Jersey’s family leave law to explicitly include bereavement leave for miscarriage or stillbirth. It directly affects employees working for employers with 30+ staff (reducing the prior threshold of 50 employees for some periods) who need time to grieve such losses. The key provision adds "miscarriage or stillbirth of a child" to the existing definition of qualifying reasons for 12 weeks of job-protected leave within a 24-month period. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1989, c.261) to clarify that this leave is available under the state’s family leave framework, without creating new requirements beyond the existing 12-week entitlement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2046: Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances.

This New Jersey bill (S 2046) expands the Family Leave Act to provide up to 21 days of protected leave for employees experiencing specific bereavement events, including the death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage, or failed fertility treatment. It directly affects employees working for employers with 30+ staff (down from 50 under previous rules), covering situations like pregnancy loss or a child’s death, whether through birth, adoption, or gestational carrier arrangements. The leave is available through the existing Temporary Disability Benefits system, with 21 days for cases not covered by other leave types (like miscarriage) and 7 days when other leave applies (like stillbirth). This change ensures employees can take time off without job loss for these deeply personal losses, aligning with New Jersey’s broader family leave protections.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 174: Prohibits public disclosure of names and addresses in certain unemployment, temporary disability, and family leave claim appeals documents.

This bill (S 174) prohibits public disclosure of personal identifying information - such as names and addresses - in appeals documents related to unemployment, temporary disability, and family leave claims. It directly affects individuals who file these appeals by keeping their personal details confidential in public records. The key mechanism requires state agencies to redact or withhold such information from documents made available under open records laws. This amendment updates existing confidentiality protections under New Jersey law to specifically cover these types of benefit appeals. The bill does not change eligibility rules or benefit amounts, only how personal data is handled in appeal records.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Unemployment Data Privacy

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2213: Requires distribution of family leave informational materials to certain patients.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (with input from the Department of Labor) to create and distribute informational materials about family leave programs under the state's 1989 Family Leave Act. Specifically, it mandates that healthcare facilities providing maternity care must make these materials available in waiting areas and give them to patients at the time of discharge. The materials must be included in hospital discharge plans for patients with designated caregivers, as part of the required after-care instructions. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1482: Requires employer to disclose information concerning leave eligibility in hiring package.

This bill requires employers in New Jersey to provide written information about an applicant's eligibility for family, medical, and disability leave benefits at the time of a job offer. It directly affects job applicants by disclosing whether they would qualify for specific leave types under state or federal law (including the Family Leave Act, FMLA, and disability benefits) and, if ineligible, the reason for ineligibility. Employers must also direct applicants to a state webpage with further leave information. Failure to comply results in a $500 civil penalty per violation. The law aims to ensure transparency about future workplace benefits during the hiring process.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2681: Requires certain salary, compensation and benefit information to be included in certain job postings.

S 2681 requires employers in New Jersey with 10 or more employees to include specific compensation and benefit details in all job postings. Employers must disclose the minimum and maximum salary range, supplemental compensation, benefits (like paid leave and health care), and retirement plans offered. This applies to all job postings on any platform, whether posted by the employer directly or through a third-party site. Employers who fail to comply face civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, enforceable by the Commissioner of Labor.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2767: Establishes additional manner of employer compliance to provide earned sick leave for certain employees subject to collective bargaining agreements.

This bill (S 2767) modifies New Jersey's earned sick leave law to create a new compliance option for employers in the ready-mix concrete industry covered by collective bargaining agreements. It allows these employers to satisfy the sick leave requirement by providing existing fully paid time off (including personal/vacation/sick days) totaling at least 40 hours per benefit year, instead of tracking separate sick leave accruals. The paid time off must be usable for the same purposes as sick leave under the law and must be fully paid. This provision specifically applies to employees under collective bargaining agreements in the ready-mix concrete industry and does not affect employees already excluded from the law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 417: Requires employers to provide paid leave to employees to vote in certain circumstances.

New Jersey's S 417 requires most private employers to provide employees with two hours of paid leave annually to vote in general elections. Employees must give employers two business days' notice, and employers must display voting leave rights 10 days before elections. The paid leave must be at the employee's regular pay rate (not below minimum wage), and employers must offer it at the start or end of a work shift on election day. The law excludes construction workers under collective bargaining agreements, per diem healthcare workers, and public employees already covered by existing paid voting leave policies.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1066: Requires Commissioner of Health to establish maternity care public awareness campaign.

S 1066 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health to create a public awareness campaign focused on improving maternal and child health outcomes. The campaign will provide accessible information through a state website, including hospital data on cesarean births and breastfeeding rates to help women choose care providers, promote shared decision-making during childbirth, and share resources about breastfeeding, pregnancy discrimination rights, family leave options, and Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women. It specifically directs healthcare providers to document patient birth plans in medical records and encourages the use of high-value care options like midwives and lactation support. The bill aims to ensure equitable access to maternity care information for all women and children across racial and ethnic backgrounds. The campaign must coordinate with existing efforts to avoid duplication.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Women's Health Paid Leave

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1587: Modifies laws regarding compensation and leaves of absence for certain public employees who served in the military; requires public employers follow certain policies and procedures for leaves of absence.

This bill (S 1587) modifies New Jersey law to provide enhanced leave and compensation protections for public employees who serve in the military reserves or National Guard. It directly affects state, county, school district, and municipal employees who are active or retired military members. Key provisions require public employers to grant up to 30 paid workdays of leave annually for military service (including travel days and transitional leave), maintain retirement/health benefits during leave, and cover pay for service exceeding 30 days through collective bargaining agreements or employer discretion. The bill also clarifies that "active duty" includes medical appointments related to military service. It is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Paid Leave Public Employees National Guard & Reserve Veteran Employment

All labor & employment bills