Passaic, East Orange and Paterson are the latest New Jersey cities to pass mandatory paid sick leave ordinances. The terms of the laws are similar: covered employers will be required to give all employees one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 10 employees would not be required to provide more than 24 hours of paid sick time per year. Those with 10 or more employees would need to provide 40 hours of paid sick leave annually.
Paid sick leave can be used for:
- The employee’s own mental or physical illness, injury or health condition, or preventive medical care,
- To care for a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition, who needs preventive medical care, and
- Certain events related to public health emergencies.
In addition, covered employers in each of these communities will be required to post in the workplace a Paid Sick Leave Poster. Employers must also provide to each new employee at the time of hire and to existing employees as soon as practicable after the effective date of the law written notice of their rights under the laws.
Passaic, East Orange and Paterson ordinances will go into effect in January. Earlier this year Newark and Jersey City passed similar paid sick leave laws. The New Jersey legislature is currently considering a statewide paid sick leave law.
The official City of Newark Paid Sick Leave Poster and the Jersey City Earned Sick Leave Poster are currently available. Passaic, East Orange and Paterson sick leave posters are expected to release closer to their January, 2015 effective dates.