Assembly Women and Children Committee Chairwoman Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) gave testimony today before the Assembly Budget Committee in support of her legislation to require employers to provide earned sick leave to workers in New Jersey.

An estimated 1.1 million New Jerseyans are unable to earn sick leave, with nearly one-quarter of American adults reporting they’ve lost a job or been threatened with job loss for taking time off due to illness or to care for a sick child or relative.

Lampitt’s bill (A-2354) would allow workers to accrue one hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Workers would not be permitted to accrue at any one time, or carry forward from one benefit year to the next, more than 40 hours of earned sick leave if the employer is a small employer in the state, or more than 72 hours of earned sick leave if the employer is not a small employer.

The employer would be required to pay the employee for earned sick leave at the same rate with the same benefits as the employee normally earns, except that the pay rate may not be less than the state minimum wage.

The bill prohibits retaliatory personnel actions against an employee for the use or requested use of earned sick leave or for filing of a complaint for an employer violation.

According to Lampitt, the legislation is intended to set minimum standards for earned sick leave, but not to prevent any employer policies, collective bargaining agreements or other laws or ordinances which set higher standards.

If enacted, New Jersey would follow Connecticut and California as the third state to pass legislation requiring employers to allow workers to earn paid sick leave.

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