Governor Phil Murphy recently signed legislation which expands protections of the Family Leave Act to allow employees forced to take time off to care for a family member during the COVID-19 outbreak with up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave in a 24-month period without losing their jobs.

Under the bill, employees will be eligible for leave to care for a family member as a result of an epidemic of a communicable disease, or efforts to prevent spread of a communicable disease. These job protections will extend to employees requiring leave to provide care or treatment for their child if the child's school or place of care is closed in response to a public health emergency.

“New Jerseyans should not have to make a decision between caring for a loved one with COVID-19 and keeping their job,” said Governor Murphy.

“Our state is already home to the nation’s most comprehensive Family Leave Act, and it’s only right that we expand these protections to meet the unprecedented health crisis we are facing.”

Read the full article on Governor Murphy's website here.

For the latest information on COVID-19 from the State of New Jersey visit the nj information hub or text njcovid to 898-211.