The Federal FMLA provides that employees may take 12 weeks of unpaid leave from their jobs when they have a serious medical condition or must care for a family member with a serious medical condition. The FMLA only applies to employers with 50 or more employees and employees must meet certain conditions to be eligible for leave. An employer must not retaliate against an employee for exercising his or her rights under the FMLA.
New Jersey also has a similar statute, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, which provides different but related rights to employees. New Jersey law does not require an employer to have a minimum number of employees to be subject to the law and is also more pro-employee than its federal counterpart. NJ employees can now get up to 12 consecutive weeks of benefits or up to 56 intermittent leave in a 12-month period bound with a new child or care for a loved one. There are a number of conditions and requirements to be eligible including notice and sufficient working credits so learn about these conditions before taking leave.
To learn more about employee rights and employer requirements under the FMLA, contact Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq. toll-free at (855) 376-5291 or by email at fniemann@hnlawfirm.com.