Co-authored by Ari G. Burd

Although the State of New Jersey has yet to pass a law requiring employers to offer paid Sick leave, a number of New Jersey municipalities have taken it upon themselves to mandate this benefit. As of January 11, 2017, Morristown now requires that, with some limited exceptions, any employee working in Morristown 80 or more hours in a year must be provided sick leave.

A summary of the law can be found here: http://www.townofmorristown.org/vertical/sites/%7B0813EA2E-B627-4F82-BBB0-DDEE646947B5%7D/uploads/Sick_Leave_FAQ.pdf.

There are now at least 13 municipalities in New Jersey that have passed their own sick leave laws including: Bloomfield, East Orange, Elizabeth, Irvington, Jersey City, Montclair, New Brunswick, Newark, Passaic, Patterson, Plainfield and Trenton. This has become a legal landmine for employers, as sick leave requirements differ widely among municipalities.

If you employ individuals in any of these municipalities and have questions or concerns about how these laws affect your obligations as an employer, please contact GH&C’s Labor and Employment Department for assistance.