Payroll deductions for New Jersey's Paid Family Leave Law will commence on January 1, 2009, and benefits under the law will commence on July 1, 2009. The new law provides up to six weeks of paid leave for employees who need time off to care for a seriously ill family member, or a newborn or newly adopted child.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has issued a notice of rights regarding the law, which employers are required to post at each New Jersey workplace, in a place or places that are accessible to all employees, by December 15, 2008. Further, employers must distribute a copy of the notice to each New Jersey employee by December 15, either in hard copy or electronic form. Thereafter, the notice must be provided to: (1) new employees at the time of hire; (2) whenever an employee informs the employer that he/she is taking time off for a reason covered by the new law; and (3) upon any first request from an employee. Letter and legal size copies of this notice may be found on the Department's website at http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/fli/content/emp_important_info.html.

Additional information concerning the Paid Family Leave Law is contained in Proskauer's April 2008 alert at http://www.proskauer.com/news_publications/client_alerts/content/2008_04_09/_res/id=sa_PDF/16071-040808-Gov-Signs-NJ-Law-ca-v3.pdf.

The Department has issued proposed regulations under the Paid Family Leave Law, which should be final in early December. We will issue an alert then to provide further information on the implementation of this new law. If you have any questions concerning the notice requirements or other issues regarding this law, please contact your Proskauer relationship attorney or either of the attorneys who are listed in this Client Alert.

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