Senate approves

paid family leave

BY ELISE YOUNG, northjersey.com, Monday, March 3, 2008

TRENTON — The state Senate today approved a bill to allow workers paid time off so they may tend to a new child or an ailing relative.

New Jersey would become the third state with such a provision.  Workers would be entitled to up to six weeks’ leave at two-thirds of their salary, to a maximum $502 a week.  The payments would come from a pool generated by a maximum $33-a-year deduction from workers’ pay.

The measure passed 22-16 after 40 minutes of debate.  It next will move to an Assembly committee and is expected to reach the Assembly for a full vote by the end of the month.

Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney recalled how his daughter required 75 days in neonatal intensive care after being born at 2 pounds.  He said his employer was understanding, but others aren't so fortunate.

"This is an insurance policy to make sure that when tragedy strikes, you don't have to worry about losing your job or losing your home," said Sweeney, D-Gloucester.

But Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, said the law would hit small businesses hard amid a sagging economy and force them to go without key workers for more than a month.

"Small business is the engine that drives this state, and you know what, we're choking the engine," Bucco said.

The bill is expected to be considered by the Assembly in the coming weeks and Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign it.

But the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce said members have sent more than 1,000 e-mails to legislators voicing opposition, while the conservative group Americans for Prosperity ran radio ads against it.

California allows workers to take up to six weeks paid leave under a 2004 law, while Washington will allow workers to take five weeks paid leave as of October 2009.  Federal law allows workers in businesses with at least 50 employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.

State Labor Commissioner David Socolow estimates 38,000 New Jersey workers annually would take paid leave.  New Jersey has 4.1 million workers.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg recalled how spending four weeks tending to her husband at home before he died nine years ago.  She said she relied on staff, friends and family.

"I have no idea what I would have done if somehow I could not have spent that precious time caring for Irwin Weinberg and sharing those moments with him," said Weinberg, D-Bergen.  "This is still a very real and important experience for me.  How can I not fight for the same resources for other wives, mothers or loved ones?"

But Republicans cited employment data showing the state added 3,700 jobs last year — the worst since 2003 — and lost 9,200 private-sector jobs in January, the worst month in five years.

"What message is being sent?" asked Sen. Kevin O'Toole, R-Essex, before answering his own question:  "New Jersey is antibusiness."

Sen. Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, predicted the bill would push businesses across the Delaware River.

"This will make New Jersey uncompetitive, particularly with Pennsylvania," Lance said.

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, R-Monmouth, had harsh words for Democrats who backed the bill.

"You are destroying this state," Kyrillos said.

But Sen. Raymond Lesniak noted the state's 4.5 percent unemployment rate is lower than the national 4.9 percent average and predicted so few workers would take paid leave that businesses wouldn't be affected.

"I'm a little bit tired of the Jersey bashing," said Lesniak, D-Union.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.