Is Your NJ Business Ready for the Amended NJ Family Leave Act? Changes Start July 17, 2026.

Andrew S. Berns, Partner and Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Employment practices, and Jenna A. Shorr, Associate, co-authored “Is your business ready for the amended New Jersey Family Leave Act?,” published in Business in New Jersey Everyday (BINJE), to notify New Jersey businesses about the new law taking effect on July 17, 2026.

Significantly, the amended NJFLA lowers the coverage threshold from 30 employees to 15 employees, which will bring many employers under the statute for the first time while extending protections to a larger segment of the workforce.

As the authors explain, businesses that previously fell below the 30-employee threshold should evaluate their obligations now and ensure their policies and procedures comply with the amended law.

Employers that fail to comply with the NJFLA may face enforcement actions by the Attorney General as well as individual or class action lawsuits. Available remedies may include compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief authorized by statute.

Employers should use the period before the effective date to review existing policies, assess workforce eligibility, and update leave administration procedures. Key steps include:

1. Review workforce size to determine whether the business will become covered for the first time under the new 15-employee threshold.
2. Update employee handbooks and leave policies to reflect the amended eligibility requirements and employee rights.
3. Revise leave administration procedures to account for the new three-month/250-hour eligibility standard and the interaction between NJFLA, Family Leave Insurance (FLI), Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI), and earned sick leave.
4. Train supervisors, managers, and human resources personnel on the expanded protections and reinstatement obligations.

The amendments represent one of the most significant expansions of the NJFLA in recent years. Employers that prepare now will be better positioned to maintain compliance, minimize risk, and avoid costly disputes once the law takes effect. For more information, please contact aberns@einhornlawyers.com.