New Jersey a Step Closer to Guaranteeing Workers Paid Family Leave

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/03/04/new-jersey-a-step-closer-to-guaranteeing-workers-paid-family-leave/

by Mike Hall, Mar 4, 2008

New Jersey is a step closer to becoming the third state to guarantee workers paid time off to take care of an ill family member or newborn child. New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech tells us the New Jersey state Senate passed the paid family leave bill yesterday.

It provides up to six weeks of paid family leave at two-thirds salary (to a maximum of $524 a week). The measure would be financed by employee payroll deductions that would cost each worker in New Jersey a maximum of 64 cents a week, or $33 a year. The bill now is on the way to the House where approval is expected and Gov. Jon Corzine (D) says he will sign it if it gets to his desk.

California established the nation’s first paid family and medical leave program for workers in 2006, and Washington State’s paid family leave, approved last year, takes effect in Oct. 2009. Last year, a paid family leave bill (S. 1681) was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Related legislation, calling for paid sick days for workers, was introduced in the House and Senate last year.

Here’s the latest from Wowkanech.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO strongly supports this pro-family legislation, which is a quality of life issue for the people of New Jersey. Workers should not have to choose between their jobs and having to take care of a newborn or ill family member.

FULL story at link.

[classykaren]

1. We should have this all over the country