December 14, 2007

Paid Leave Update

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For any comments or questions, please contact Melanie Willoughby via e-mail at mwilloughby@njbia.org, or by phone at 609-393-7707, ext. 205.

Yesterday the Assembly Democrats held a private caucus to determine the status of paid family leave.  By all accounts it was a spirited discussion among the legislators.  No definitive direction or resolution was reached as to whether the bill will be posted later this lameduck session.

Thanks to all for your hard work and dedication with emails, phone calls and letters.

BUT, we must keep up our efforts to fight the legislation. The opposition will continue to press for passage during the lameduck. And there are a number of session days in January where the bill could still be passed. So please continue to contact your legislators and the Governor.

Below is the statement Assembly Speaker Roberts issued following the Assembly caucus.

ROBERTS STATEMENT ON PAID FAMILY LEAVE

(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., released the following statement regarding today’s caucus discussion of the paid-family-leave insurance legislation:

"The Assembly Majority Caucus spent the better part of an hour discussing the paid-family leave issue from all sides. Members expressed significant support and significant concerns about the legislation.

"It was clear from the scope of discussion that we will need more time to work through some issues, such as the bill’s impact on small businesses, the potential for abuse, and the timing of some of the bill’s provisions.

"These issues are surmountable and it is my belief that a paid-family-leave insurance bill will soon become law in New Jersey. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when.”

Additionally, below is the statement Governor Jon Corzine issued.

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement on Family Leave Insurance following up on his comments at the New Jersey Business and Industry Association luncheon on Tuesday, December 11, 2007:

“To re-emphasize the point I made yesterday, the proposed family leave insurance legislation has no new mandates on small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.  The legislation contains no new requirements for any business, and has no requirement that a small business hold a position open while an employee is receiving family leave insurance benefits. 

"If a small business chooses to deny family leave, the only way an employee can receive family leave insurance benefits is to quit the job – an option that is highly unattractive.  Based on the experience of California, most workers faced with this impossible decision chose to remain employed and received no benefits.  Having to choose to quit your job in order to receive family leave insurance benefits is really no choice at all.  

"Ideally every worker should be able to provide care for loved ones and maintain a limited income during a time of family crisis, secure in their ability to return quickly to their job.  I wholeheartedly support this legislation and its promise to provide financial support for workers who are in need of leave and have the ability to take it."

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