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The New Jersey Business & Industry Association opposes the proposed changes to New Jersey’s Paid Family Leave Act that would expand eligibility, increase benefits, and extend the number of weeks leaves can be taken. The legislation will hurt small businesses and eventually require tax increases to pay for the expanded program.

The bill, S-3085, is before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee this afternoon.

“Expanding eligibility so that more employees can collect Paid Family Leave benefits, increasing the amount of their checks, and extending the number of weeks they can collect those checks will deplete the fund and likely lead to tax increases to pay for it all,” NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka said.

In addition, doubling the amount of time off that employees can take will leave businesses short-staffed for longer periods, which will be especially disruptive to small businesses, Siekerka said.

“Small businesses will have to pay overtime to other workers or hire replacement employees for longer periods of time if this legislation becomes law,” Siekerka said. “This will make it more difficult and more expensive to run a business in New Jersey.”

New Jersey is one of only three states that now have a paid family leave benefit. The others are Rhode Island and California, in addition to the District of Columbia. New Jersey also is one of only six states to even provide temporary disability.

“This legislation will make New Jersey less competitive with our neighboring states and less affordable for the business community,” Siekerka said. “New Jersey needs policies that encourage new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses. Unfortunately, this legislation is one more example of a policy that will drive businesses away from here.”

4 responses to “NJBIA Opposes Legislation Expanding Paid Family Leave”

  1. Philip Schertz says:

    Paid family leave will hurt the NJ economy and will hurt small businesses. It will also be subject to abuse. Do not expand family leave.

  2. Jack O'Connor says:

    Paid family leave is a quality of life benefit necessary for all. Almost all developed nations have universal paid family leave, as well as other other necessary quality of life benefits. The only issue for me is how it should be paid. Ideally the federal government should pay for equity fairness to all employers. It is presently done for social security. I would like to see NJBIA instead of opposing proposed legislation to benefit all, should pro actively initiate and educate responses to proposed legislation that improve the response. Our employees would certainly appreciate it

    • John says:

      Jack, the golden eagle has flown over your head. There is a line around the block for government jobs, because of government power over all of us that work for you. When we cut your salaries and benefits in half, there will still be a working government. We should get more from government than what we pay for. We work hard, smart and efficient. Government should pay market rate; we are owed that courtesy. We don’t want your judicial charity. Remove our tolls, build our infrastructure, and level our government costs with business. You should work for us Jack, not the other way around.

  3. Jack O'Connor says:

    Paid family leave is a quality of life benefit necessary for all. Almost all developed nations have universal paid family leave, as well as other other necessary quality of life benefits. The only issue for me is how it should be paid. Ideally the federal government should pay for equity fairness to all employers. It is presently done for social security. I would like to see NJBIA instead of opposing proposed legislation to benefit all, should pro actively initiate and educate responses to proposed legislation that improve the response. Our employees would certainly appreciate it.

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