No Paid Sick Leave in Middletown, But NJ Moves Forward

Paid sick leave legislature has not yet been enacted in Middletown, but Paterson, Passaic,Newark, East Orange, and Jersey City all have laws mandating paid sick leave.

“It is no surprise we are seeing strong movement at the municipal and state level to enact employer-provided paid sick day policies,” AARP New Jersey State Director Jim Dieterle said in a release. “Too many New Jersey workers do not have access to paid sick days.”

AARP released the results of a public opinion poll of 1,000 randomly selected New Jersey residents age 40 and older concerning their experiences as family caregivers and their views on policies to provide paid sick days for working caregivers.

According to the release, 80 percent of respondents support employer provided paid sick leave. 90 percent of democrats support employer provided paid sick leave, 78 percent of independents and 71 percent of republicans.

Of those who have gone into work early or late, or have taken time off from their job in order to care for an adult loved one, 30 percent of respondents reported they have had to do so at least weekly. Approximately one third report they have had to alter their work schedule several times a month.

State legislature on paid sick leave is moving forward. A proposal sent in last Monday could guarantee all New Jersey Workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Not everyone supports the movement.

“Business growth inevitably leads to improved benefits and pay, but it is regulations like these that stop growth before it can begin,” Danielle Cyr, who represents the organizatin Americans for Prospetrity, told the Asbury Park Press.

What do you think? Should New Jersey workers get paid sick time? Tell us in the comments below.