The New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 24-month period to bond with a child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, and other qualifying circumstances.
Starting July 17, 2026, NJFLA coverage expanded to more employers and employees:
- Employers with 15 or more employees will be covered (previously 30+).
- In July 2027, the threshold will drop to 10 employees.
- In July 2028, the threshold will drop to 5 employees. This change will bring nearly all employers in New Jersey under NJFLA.
Eligibility details:
- Employees will qualify for NJFLA leave after three months of employment (instead of a full year).
- Employees must have worked at least 250 hours to qualify (down from 1,000 hours).
Other changes:
- The NJFLA now allows employees to choose the order in which they use Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI).
- Employers must reinstate employees who use TDI or FLI to their prior positions or to an equivalent role. The New Jersey Department of Labor recently confirmed that the New Jersey Temporary Disability Law provides eligible employees up to 26 weeks of job protection while collecting Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) benefits and up to 12 weeks of job protection while collecting Family Leave Insurance (FLI) benefits.
Important note:
NJFLA covers leave for a covered family member. It does not cover the employee’s own health or medical condition. For a leave of absence due to the employee’s own health or medical condition, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave.
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This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.