Paid Leave Awareness Measured in Survey

On Oct 17, 2023

A two-year study commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) to measure awareness of – and perceived access to – the state’s paid leave laws found 71% of workers report having access to paid time off to care for themselves, while half were able to identify Earned Sick Leave and Family Leave Insurance by name.

The study, conducted by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development and other partners in conjunction with NJDOL, sought to understand opinions and use of the programs. About half of respondents reported having access to paid leave to care for loved ones.

While workers must meet eligibility requirements to qualify for Family Leave Insurance benefits, all employers regardless of size must provide paid sick leave to nearly all workers, full-time, part-time, and temporary. Employers are also required to inform employees of their paid leave benefits and protections.

Both the Earned Sick Leave Law and Family Leave benefits cover time off to care for oneself, as well as loved ones. A related sick leave study by Heldrich revealed some employers discourage workers from taking their sick time or shared incorrect information.

The recent polling data showed those with lower earnings and workers of color are more concerned about job security and advancement if they utilize one of the paid leave options, despite retaliation protections in the laws. The NJ Family Leave Act, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, and the NJ SAFE Act also provide job protection to some workers who take leave.

“This research underscores the progress we’ve made to raise awareness and use of New Jersey’s paid leave programs, which are among the most generous in the country, and helps us map the important work still ahead,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We’re committed to helping all New Jersey workers access their benefits, and to further reduce barriers to paid leave among communities that we know face particular challenges.”

NJDOL data shows Family Leave applications/payouts increasing by more than 50% since 2017, particularly among fathers and nonbirth parents taking leave. Since 2016, the percentage of family leave claims for males taking leave to bond with a new child has doubled from 14% to 28%.

For the most recent research, the Heldrich Center partnered with the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations’ Center for Women and Work and the Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling to conduct four statewide surveys of working New Jerseyans in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The research coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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