On July 17, 2026, New Jersey law A3451/S2950 went into effect, expanding coverage for workers under the New Jersey Family Leave Act. Previously, New Jersey law required employers with 30+ employees to offer paid family leave to employees who worked at least 1,000 hours in the past 12 months. This new law expands coverage to employers with 15 employees, and its employees who have worked for at least 250 hours in the past three months.
Additionally, the expansion law creates job protections for employees receiving temporary disability insurance (TDI) benefits. An employee receiving TDI benefits must be restored to the same position, or one that is comparable in seniority, status, benefits, pay, and/or other terms and conditions of employment.
The law also allows employees the ability to choose what order they’d like to use their leave benefits. For example, if an employee is eligible for state paid family leave, earned sick leave, and temporary disability benefits, the employee has the discretion to choose the order in which they would take such leaves.
Employees should be aware that under New Jersey law, an employer cannot retaliate against you for taking legally protected leave. This law greatly expands employees’ rights, and provides additional protection for employees taking maternity, bonding, and caregiving leave.