Paid sick leave has been a hot topic in Trenton this session, but sick days are not the only time off the New Jersey legislature wants to regulate. Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) has introduced two other bills that would govern what types of activities employers must give employees time off for.

 

S2935 would require any employer of 25 or more employees working at a single location to permit any employee who is a parent, grandparent, or guardian of a child attending a school or childcare facility to take off up to 40 hours each year, not exceeding eight hours in any calendar month, to participate in activities of the child’s school or childcare facility, if the employee gives reasonable notice of the planned absence and any requested documentation of the participation. The bill explicitly provides that employees may sue employers who do not comply with the bill.

 

S2933, the “New Jersey Schedules That Work Act,” provides that employees may request a change to their work schedules without fear of retaliation, and requires that employers consider these requests. The bill also requires employers to provide more predictable and stable schedules for employees in certain low wage occupations. The bill explicitly provides that employees may sue employers who do not comply with the bill.

 

NJCJI is part of a coalition of pro-business entities opposing legislation that further regulates employee scheduling. While other opponents have spoken out against the broader implications these bills will have on the state’s economy, NJCJI is focused on the liability risks these bills pose. The Star-Ledger has published an opinion piece by NJCJI President Marcus Rayner that outlines our concerns.