TRENTON — More than 1.7 million workers in New Jersey would risk losing their jobs if they took paid leave to care for newborns or sick family members, finds a study from Rutgers. Dr. Rebecca Logue-Conroy, a research analyst for the Rutgers Center for Women and Work, revealed that these workers are unprotected by the paid family leave rules. Current legislation allows for up to 12 weeks of paid leave every two years, but employees that lack these protections can potentially be dismissed before their return to work.

Consequently, the gap in New Jersey’s paid family leave protections mostly affects younger, low-income workers, and women. For instance, in the study, women were found to make up 49% of the sample but represented 58% of unprotected employees. Similarly, more than 50% of food preparation and service workers are without these protections.

A solution is currently being considered by the state legislature, a bill that would lower the employee threshold from 30 down to five. Supporting this, the NJ Time to Care Coalition is advocating for the employment requirement to be brought down from a year to 90 days.

If you are finding yourself in a position where you are unsure about your rights or need advice on how to go about applying for Paid Family Leave in New Jersey, eddcaller.com can provide you with all the necessary information as well as guidance on How to get a hold of Paid Family Leave. With up-to-date information and resources, eddcaller.com can make the often-confusing process of applying and qualifying for Paid Family Leave significantly easier.