Employment & Worker Protection · New Jersey
New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave
P.L. 2018, c. 10 / P.L. 2008 - enacted in New Jersey.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- New Jersey strictness
The bottom line
New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave is an enacted law in New Jersey, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2020-07-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 48/100
- New Jersey strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official New Jersey legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave
New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave (P.L. 2018, c. 10 / P.L. 2008) is an enacted law in New Jersey under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-02-19 and becomes effective on 2020-07-01. New Jersey currently reports 4 tracked regulations with 4 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places New Jersey within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in P.L. 2018, c. 10 / P.L. 2008 itself.
Applicability under New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave: FLI: all NJ employers. Sick: all employers with 1+ employee. Penalty exposure is documented as: Dept of Labor enforcement. Private right of action for sick leave. Notable exemptions: Federal employees. Certain public employees covered by other laws..
Summary
New Jersey FLI: 12 weeks paid family leave at 85% wages. Earned sick: 40 hrs/year for all employees.
Key Requirements
FLI: 12 weeks bonding/family care at 85% wages (up to $1,055/week). Sick: 40 hrs/year. All employers.
Penalties
Dept of Labor enforcement. Private right of action for sick leave.
Applicability
FLI: all NJ employers. Sick: all employers with 1+ employee.
Exemptions
Federal employees. Certain public employees covered by other laws.
Official Source
https://www.nj.gov/labor/myleavebenefits/workers/resources/paid-leave-insurance.shtmlHow New Jersey compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - New Jersey ranks #16 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. New Jersey is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave enacted?
New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave was enacted on 2019-02-19 and became effective on 2020-07-01. It was introduced as P.L. 2018, c. 10 / P.L. 2008.
What are the penalties for violating New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave?
Dept of Labor enforcement. Private right of action for sick leave. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave apply to small businesses?
FLI: all NJ employers. Sick: all employers with 1+ employee. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does New Jersey compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
New Jersey has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 4 enacted regulations out of 4 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave?
The official text of New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave (P.L. 2018, c. 10 / P.L. 2008) is available from the New Jersey legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More New Jersey Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- New Jersey FLI + Earned Sick Leave is enacted in New Jersey, effective 2020-07-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; New Jersey ranks #16 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation New Jersey tracks across all five policy areas. New Jersey profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official New Jersey source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.